Agriculture Department acting director Peter Gurr says DOA farm inspectors will be visiting the majority of local farms by the end of next week, and some farms have been issued certificates by DOA to sell locally grown vegetables on the roadside, markets, stores and restaurants.

On Oct. 25, Gurr issued a notice of recommendation, which was also supported by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, placing a temporary ban on the sale to the school  lunch program, of locally grown vegetables except for local bananas, taros, ripe bananas and hydroponically grown vegetables.

The following day, Gurr issued a notice to stores, restaurants, and roadside stands banning temporarily sale of these same locally grown vegetables, except for local bananas, taros, ripe bananas and hydroponically grown vegetables.

The temporary ban followed DOA farm inspectors who found during routine visits to farms for October potential health hazards caused by unregulated use of pesticides and fertilizers at local farms.

Asked if DOA farm inspectors have found any new issues during their follow up visits to local farms, Gurr said there are no new issues at this time.

“It was interesting to find during the visitations thus far there have been NO CHEMICALS — legal or illegal — on the farms since the Governor issued a ban on produce being sold to the School Lunch Program,” Gurr said over the weekend. “Visitations will continue indefinitely.”

Asked when DOA plans to complete revisiting farms, Gurr said a majority of the farms will be visited by the end of next week. “However, since there are new farms almost every week, the visitations will continue throughout the year ahead,” he pointed out.

Regarding the task force of seven ASG agencies tasked by the governor to visit the farms on island, Gurr said the group has met several times to discuss the roles and responsibilities of each Task Force member as it relates to this issue.

“As soon as our reports are complete and reviewed by the Governor, there will be a press release,” he said and noted that the “recertification process of farms is on-going and several farmers have already been issued certificates to sell on the roadside, markets, stores, and restaurants.”

Asked when the ban will be lifted for deliver to the school lunch program, Gurr first pointed out — to further clarify this issue — that there is no ban on local staple crops such as taro and bananas —only on locally-grown vegetables.

He said DOA — together with the Task Force — would make recommendations to the Governor once the majority of farmers have met the necessary compliance criteria.

“Farms that are not up to standard will not be certified and will continue to be banned from selling to the School Lunch Program,” he added.