Not bugged: Lucas Greenhouses recognized for use of organic pest control

From Fairport-East Rochester Post: Fairport, N.Y. — One local business has been recognized for keeping plants and the people who tend them safe and healthy.

Tom and Susan Palomaki are the owners of Lucas Greenhouses in Fairport, which received an award for Excellence in IPM (integrated pest management) by Cornell University.

Long time gardeners, the Victor couple took over the business in 2005. Since then, they have looked for ways to avoid using strong pesticides.

Susan explained that although spraying everything under a greenhouse roof with harsh chemicals may be quicker, it poses safety risks to people in the same environment.

“If you read the (pesticide) labels, you realize there’s got to be a better way,” said Susan. “It’s pretty scary.”

They found that using chemicals can not only creates dangerous fumes, but may also cause insects to develop a resistance to them, which makes them tougher to snuff out.

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