The shape of organic apple production in the future could well hinge on decisions made in the next few years about the continued use of antibiotics for control of fireblight. Two key tenets of organic production are, don't use synthetic substances anddon't cure a problem until you know you have that problem. Control of fireblight with antibiotics goes against those principles. Antibiotics are synthetic, and they work best when applied preventatively, not as a curative. During a session on organic apple production during the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, last December, a roundtable discussion focused on fireblight control. Several participants expressed frustration over the National Organic Standards Board's push for elimination of antibiotic use within a short time frame.
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