bursting watermelons

[MB]

Repost from another group - feel free to give feedback on whether
reposts/posts from other regions/etc are of any interest. Trying to
get a feel for what sticks here. :)


BEIJING (AP) — Watermelon fields in eastern China are a mess of burst
fruit
after farmers abused growth chemicals in an attempt to make extra
money but
ended up ruining their crops, state media reported Tuesday.

An investigative report by China Central Television found farms in and
around
Danyang city in Jiangsu province were losing acres (hectares) of fruit
to the
problem.

The farmers sprayed forchlorfenuron, a growth accelerator, during
overly wet
weather and put it on too late in the season, which made the melons
burst, CCTV
said, citing agricultural experts.

It said most watermelons sold at a wholesale market in nearby Shanghai
were
believed to have been treated with forchlorfenuron. Telltale signs are
fibrous,
misshapen fruit with mostly white instead of black seeds, it said.

Chinese regulations don’t forbid use of the drug, and it is allowed in
the
United States for use on kiwi fruit and grapes.

But the report underscores how farmers in China are abusing both legal
and
illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and
fertilizers.

The government has already voiced alarm over the widespread overuse of
food
additives like dyes and sweeteners that retailers hope will make food
more
attractive and boost sales.

The CCTV report colorfully described the watermelons as ‘‘land mines’’
and
said they were exploding by the acre (hectare).

The report quoted Feng Shuangqing, a professor at the China
Agricultural
University, as saying the problem showed that China needs to clarify
its farm
chemical standards and supervision to protect consumer health.

Danyang farmer Liu Mingsuo ended up with eight acres (three hectares)
of
ruined fruit and told CCTV he couldn’t sleep because he kept picturing
exploding
watermelons.

‘‘On May 7, I came out and counted 80 (bursting watermelons) but by
the
afternoon it was 100,’’ Liu said. ‘‘Two days later I didn’t bother to
count
anymore.’’

About 20 farmers and 115 acres (45 hectares) of watermelon around
Danyang
were affected, it said. Farmers resorted to chopping up the fruit and
feeding it
to fish and pigs, the broadcaster said.

AP-WF-05-17-11 0750GMT


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