Methyl iodide pulled from market AGRICULTURE

Jim Cochran, president of Swanton Berry Farms, inspects the crop of one of the strawberry fields at the farm in Davenport, Calif., on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. The state Department of Pesticide Regulation has proposed methyl iodide for use as a pesticide despite health concerns, especially for pregnant women. As a certified organic grower, Swanton will not use methyl iodide even if it becomes available. less Jim Cochran, president of Swanton Berry Farms, inspects the crop of one of the strawberry fields at the farm in Davenport, Calif., on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. The state Department of Pesticide Regulation has ... more Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Methyl iodide pulled from market 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

A controversial pesticide intended for California's strawberry fields has been pulled from the market by its manufacturer, much to the applause of environmental groups that waged a long battle against the toxic fumigant.

Makers of methyl iodide, a bacteria-fighting agent that was approved for use in California in 2010, said in a statement they had suspended sales of the product in the United States due to "economic viability."

The company, Arysta LifeScience Corp. of Japan, also voluntarily canceled its registration to sell the pesticides within the state Wednesday.

"It's a victory for rural communities and farmworkers all across the country," said Paul Towers, a spokesman for San Francisco's Pesticide Action Network. "It underscores a new direction for California agriculture that moves toward green, cutting edge technology, and away from outdated and unsafe fumigants."

Methyl iodide was first approved by the Bush administration in 2007 as a "bridge agent" between the ozone layer-depleting methyl bromide - which will be phased out by 2015 - and greener alternatives of the future.

Yet the announcement, made Tuesday, was met with frustration by some state farmers' groups that are concerned the greener technologies will not arrive in time to keep their farms productive.

Dave Kranz, a spokesman for the 75,000-member California Farm Bureau Federation, said the decision would impact a local farmer's ability to produce high volumes of quality crops to compete with farmers in other countries.

Kranz said it appeared the makers of methyl iodide had bowed to political pressure and a "misinformation campaign."

"We hope the company's decision to stop selling does not discourage other manufacturers from developing new products that would protect crops from pests and diseases," Kranz said.

In 2010, vocal opposition to the pesticide was led by public health experts and scientists, who said residents living near fields would be exposed to possibly cancer-causing fumes. The state Department of Pesticide Regulation conducted its most extensive review of the chemical, and ultimately approved its use.

But sales of methyl iodide have been sparse in California. The high-profile campaign against methyl iodide is one reason proponents say few California farmers have used it.

Lea Brooks, spokeswoman for the Department of Pesticide Regulation, said since 2010 six farms received permits to use methyl iodide; one was a strawberry field.