Starting July 1, new fruit and vegetable commodities will be tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program.
The program is a national pesticide residue monitoring program for foods, with an emphasis on those commodities highly consumed by infants and children.
PDP sampling of celery and plums will begin on July 1 and continue for two years, as a part of the routine rotation of the foods analyzed by the program, according to the agency. Celery and plum samples will be collected from PDP sampling sites in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington state.
Blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, grape juice, green beans, mandarins (tangerines), peaches, pears, summer squash and winter squash continue to be sampled under the program, according to the USDA.
While plums and celery are added to the testing program, the USDA said bell pepper and cantaloupe collection and testing ends June 30.
