The Kern County Department of Agriculture is fining two companies for a pesticide drift incident which happened on May 5, 2017 that left five people seeking medical treatment.
Sun Pacific Farming - Maricopa and Grape Man Farms violated pesticide rules and have been ordered to pay a total of $50,250.
The investigation came after a a crew of fieldworkers harvesting cabbage began complaining of an odor.
Sun Pacific Farming - Maricopa had treated tangerine orchards that were located one-half mile west of the cabbage field with a pesticide product called Vulcan. Grape Man Farms had treated vineyards located one-half mile northwest of the cabbage site with Cosavet DF.
Kern County Department of Agriculture determined these pesticides had both drifted when they were applied, which is a violation of California law.
