Pesticide-infected organic farm wins $1 million in damages

An organic farm growing herbs for consumption has been awarded a $1 million (£561,081) payout after pesticides from nearby farms contaminated its harvest.

The Santa Cruz-based Jacobs Farm Del Cabo's produce was affected due to the evaporative drift from aerial spraying of nearby establishments and caused much of their 2006 and 2007 yield to be unmarketable.

Currently, there is no legislation in place in California regarding the drift of evaporated pesticides.

"Regulations prohibiting the continued application of pesticides that damage crops on other farms are in place. But, until now, these prohibitions did not apply to damage from pesticides when they evaporate after they are applied," said the president of Jacob's Farm Del Cabo Larry Jacobs.

The farm's website states that it was founded as a "small family farm" and produces "over 60 different varieties of herbs and edible flowers".