If you have purchased Green Mountain Compost and see distorted plant 
growth please let me or Ann Hazelrigg know. Here is the press release 
from the Agency of Ag. Vern


Burlington, VT - The Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is 
investigating reports of damage to fruits and vegetables grown in 
compost suspected to be contaminated with herbicide.

"Green Mountain Compost notified us about growth damage to some of their 
own produce and reported by a number of their customers," said 
Agrichemical Management Chief Cary Giguere.

Insects, disease, or last year's flooding are not suspected as the 
cause. "The damage that's been observed - cupped leaves, twisted stems, 
distorted growing points and reduced fruit set - is characteristic of 
damage from certain groups of herbicides, especially for sensitive 
plants such as tomatoes, peppers and beans," said Giguere.

Green Mountain Compost, working in consultation with the Agency of 
Agriculture, has sent samples from this year's lots of compost to a 
laboratory to test for suspect herbicides. Preliminary results are 
expected within a week.

The Agency of Agriculture and the Health Department advise Vermonters 
who see similar signs in their own plants to not sell or consume their 
garden produce, and to report damage to UVM Extension Service, Plant 
Diagnostic Clinic at 802-656-0493. http://pss.uvm.edu/pd/pdc/

"The affected plants look odd and unhealthy," said the Health 
Department's State Toxicologist Sarah Vose, PhD. "We don't expect that 
low levels of herbicides would cause consumers any harm but, as a 
precaution and until we know more, it makes sense to not eat food grown 
in what we suspect to be contaminated compost."

Lab test results will be reported as soon as they are available.