Hey farm gals, it’s Kara from Lange Girl Farms!
The big horses were grazing this morning with their steady, grounded energy, while the alpacas moved along the fenceline checking everything out in their thoughtful way. I took time to hand-weed a few stubborn spots near the herbs and torch some young weeds before they could spread. The Siberian huskies had their own space to run, the llamas kept their quiet lookout, and the chickens and ducks were happily occupied in their secure run. These simple mornings without chemicals feel right — the land stays alive, the animals stay strong, and we have real peace of mind.
In Part 4 we looked at how novaluron residues show up in strawberries, berries, and other foods. Now in Part 5 we’re following the money: who makes it, how Driscoll’s licensing model fits into the picture, and why regulatory oversight has been relatively light despite its presence in foods marketed to children and families.
The Manufacturers
Novaluron is developed and marketed by companies like Bayer Crop Science and generics. It is sold under brand names like Rimon and is positioned as an insect growth regulator for control of immature stages of pests. Manufacturers promote it for use on high-value crops like strawberries, berries, tree fruits, and vegetables because it targets larvae and nymphs effectively while having relatively low acute toxicity to mammals compared to some older insecticides.
Generic versions keep supply abundant and prices competitive for conventional growers. This combination of branded products and generics has helped drive adoption in berry production where pests like aphids and leafminers are common.
Driscoll’s Business Model – Licensing Without Direct Responsibility
Driscoll’s is one of the largest berry companies in the world. Importantly:
• They do not own most of the farms or apply the pesticides themselves.
• They develop patented strawberry varieties and license them to hundreds of independent growers worldwide.
• They provide genetics, technical support, and powerful marketing while taking a significant share of the revenue.
This structure allows Driscoll’s to distance itself from direct liability for pesticide use while still benefiting from the high yields and appearance that conventional insecticide programs (including novaluron) help achieve. When independent testing finds multiple pesticides (including novaluron) in their conventional berries, Driscoll’s often points out that they don’t spray the fields — the licensed growers do. This licensing model is common in modern agribusiness but makes accountability more complicated when health or environmental issues arise.
Regulatory Status & Oversight
Novaluron is approved by the EPA for use on a wide range of crops, with established tolerances for residues in food. It is considered to have relatively low acute toxicity to mammals, which is why it remains registered for agricultural use.
However, concerns persist:
• Cumulative exposure with other pesticides on strawberries and berries.
• Potential impacts on beneficial insects and the broader food web.
• Runoff and drift effects on non-target species.
• Limited long-term data on low-dose developmental effects.
Some states and countries have tighter restrictions, but in the U.S. it remains a standard tool for conventional berry growers. Advocacy groups continue to push for more protective tolerances and better monitoring, especially near schools and residential areas.
Why This Matters for Regenerative Homesteads Like Ours
We don’t buy the “targeted tool” line when multiple applications on conventional strawberries and berries contribute to the overall pesticide load reaching our tables and potentially our land through drift or contaminated water. Our alpacas and big horses graze clean pasture we’ve built without these insecticides. Our huskies, llamas, chickens, and ducks live without the added chemical burden.
The money trail shows the familiar pattern: companies develop the chemical and the genetics, growers apply it for yield and shelf life, and regenerative farms are left protecting their clean systems and choosing carefully what they buy or grow themselves.
Series Roadmap – What’s Coming Next
Part 6: The roots – discovery and development as an insect growth regulator.
Part 7: Reclaiming our land – our exact holistic methods (hand-weeding, torch burning, mulch, cover crops, livestock grazing with our alpacas and big horses), Michigan-specific tips, and how we grow or source clean berries without these insecticides.
The corporate and regulatory reality is eye-opening, but it doesn’t have to define what we feed our families. We can vote with our choices every single day.
Pin/save the series and drop a comment: Have you looked into Driscoll’s or other berry brands after seeing these reports? What worries you most about insecticide use on fruits marketed to kids? I read every one.
If you want to support a farm refusing these chemicals entirely, swing by the shop for our wildcrafted salves (soothing for hands after hand-weeding or torch work), herbal teas grown right here without sprays, or non-GMO seeds to grow your own clean food. Every order helps us keep doing it right.
We can build healthier futures for our animals and families—one toxin-free choice at a time.
See you in Part 6, farm gals!
With love from the pasture,
Kara
Lange Girl Farms
