Insects, rodents, plant disease, and weeds can devastate food crops, and human history is filled with famines attributable to these scourges. Large scale agricultural production tends to increase the susceptibility of crops to these hazards. Pesticides are currently an integral component of an agricultural system that produces increased yields of fresh fruits and vegetables with good visual quality. Pesticides have become a major cost of production of fruit and vegetable farmers. The use of pesticides is associated with risks of increase pest resistance, environmental contamination, exposure to farm workers, and escalating costs. With mounting regulatory pressure on pesticides it is likely that fewer compounds will be available to the farmer and that these compounds will be available for only a few crops of high economic value.

Pest Control of Fruits and Vegetables