Participating: Lynn Braband, Geoff Brosseau, John Butler, George Czapar, Gary Fish, Lyn Garling, Tom Green, Shawnee Hoover, Ruth Kerzee, Carrie Koplinka-Loehr, Mary Kay Malinoski, Kathy Murray, Ginger Souders-Mason
Agenda: Geoff Brosseau, BASMA, on Our Water Our World Program
George Czapar, University of Illinois Pesticide Retailer Education Project
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Presented by Geoff Brosseau, Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA), Our Water Our World (OWOW)Program (See
powerpoint
presentation to USDA Western Region IPM Center attached)
Background: BASMA and others began sampling surface water in 1992-3 and found pesticides, including diazinon and chlorpyrifos, in locations not impacted by agriculture – indicating homeowner and structural/landscape pest management use were a likely source. These pesticides were also found passing through storm and waste-water treatment plants, potentially threatening discharge permits.
Pesticide issues were entirely new to these agencies, which started from scratch trying to understand potential sources, and pertinent fed and state laws and regs. These regs were obviously not working as intended to protect surface water resources from pesticide contamination.
An outreach project was developed to increase awareness of the issues among urban/suburban pesticide users, and to encourage transition to less toxic and non-chemical alternatives to the problem pesticides. The idea was to work with stores selling those products.
The project started in 1996 with a few stores in Contra Costa County, Palo Alto and Marin. Targets were locally owned, small stores with a reputation for and an interest in enviro and community responsibility. The focus was on developing a program that would be compatible with retailer practices that would benefit the retailer as well as the environment.
Methods and materials: A conscious effort was made to focus on the facts and avoid finger pointing or advocating against pesticides. “We have a problem – and ways you (the retailer and the consumer) can help” was the approach. The project chose “less toxic” as a descriptor due to lack of awareness of “IPM” by consumers. Stores indicated they did have some less toxic products, but were not highlighting them and sales were generally poor. Stores appreciated the help in increasing sales of these products.
Less-toxic products were identified with assistance from the Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC), based in Berkeley, which produces an annual directory of least-toxic products.
Assistance to stores was provided for free through grant support provided in part by US EPA through the PESP program. Stores received staff training, “shelf talkers” hung on the shelf below least-toxic products, and a set of 15 pest-specific fact sheets, placed in a 20-slot, wire display rack in the pesticide section of the store.
Shelf talkers were maintained and fact sheet sets restocked by project staff on a regular basis.
Fact sheets focused on how to solve pest issues, and included water quality information in side-bars. The set included one sheet focusing entirely on water quality. Master Gardeners were also trained and used to communicate with customers in limited instances, for example presenting information on how to choose a structural pest control provider.
Results: The project has now spread to more than 300 stores, including individual stores and small chains. Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH), based in San Jose and since purchased by Sears, is the largest participating chain and an enthusiastic participant, at one point donating an “end cap” (the space at the end of an aisle, usually “rented” to manufacturers or distributors for $100,000 per month) to display less-toxic products and information.
Sales analysis indicated sales of highlighted products were up, with no decrease in retailer margins. Individual store response ranged from enthusiastic to lukewarm, in large part due to the level of personal interest by store managers. Although chains are generally managed centrally, individual store managers has surprising flexibility in the way they approached and supported the program.
A survey of 1300 consumers indicated 15% had heard of the program and 27% had seen materials in stores, a much larger percentage than retailers had expected based on their experience with other marketing efforts.
The project welcomes inquiries from others who would like to replicate the program. There may still be a kit available from BIRC for adapting to different regions. BASMAA requires a written agreement to access their materials to maintain integrity and consistency.
More available at www.ourwaterourworld.org
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Presented by George Czapar, University of Illinois Pesticide Retailer Education Project
Background: In 1995, a statewide survey of pesticide retailers indicated only 1/3 of retailers had staff with any training on pesticide safety. Only 50% of those felt the training they did have was adequate. Less than 10% were aware of Extension fact sheets. The primary resource for information was the Ortho Problem Solver. Retailer’s primary interest in additional training and information was to improve customer service (e.g., versus increasing sales of personal protective equipment which was low on the interest scale). 83% indicated a willingness to attend local trainings.
Indiana is the only state represented on the call that has a requirement that pesticide retailers have licensed/certified individuals on staff.
Methods and materials: With funding from EPA Region V, project staff conducted a series of free, ½-day, off-site educational sessions around the state for retailer staff, and provided for an information packet worth $50 to all participating stores. The packet included U of IL fact sheets and a set of picture cards of pests and beneficials entitled “Good Guys, Bad Guys.”
Reference materials provided to retail store employees that attended our training sessions included the following, limited to one set of materials per store:
57 Ways to Protect your Home Environment (and yourself). http://www.thisland.uiuc.edu/57ways/57ways.html
Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Guide.
https://webstore.aces.uiuc.edu/shopsite/C1391.html
Card Sets (4): The Good Guys, The Bad Guys Sets 1&2, and The Ugly Guys are
sets of 31 or 32 laminated cards with color photos.
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/outreach/eduresources/eduflashcards.html
Results: Results of a follow up survey (43% response rate) are being analyzed and will be presented at the IPM Symposium in April 2006. The survey was sent out with a one card set. Kerry Richards and Rick Johnson from Penn State, and Fred Whitford from Purdue will also present during the session. It was generally more difficult for smaller stores to participate – they can’t sacrifice staff to attend trainings.
A brief summary of the Illinois program is available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2004august/iw6.shtml
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Questions for Geoff:
Impact measurement? See PPT for survey results referenced above, stats were considered low by BASMA but high by Orchard Supply Hardware marketing staff.
Who maintains the shelf talkers and fact sheets (requires store visit a couple times a month to a couple times per year, depending on store)? Govt agency staff (waste water; haz household waste; others). Challenge is to get both partners, local agency plus store, working together. Big challenge was enlisting agencies.
How many people at BASMA involved? Two dozen agencies in Bay area plus a dozen more around CA, plus some contractors involved in restocking/training/outreach; none full-time. Geoff coordinates and spends approx. 10% of his time on this project; agencies have coordinating meetings. Agencies pool dollars to produce fact sheets.
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Questions for George:
Are materials available on-line? Not all, see links above for ordering. Card sets were most popular, especially the Good Bugs, Bad Bugs set.
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Questions for both speakers:
Are you changing habits? Sales of home and garden pesticides have increased by order of magnitude in past decade. In OWOW, less toxic are increasing by 2-15%, more toxic are decreasing. Ready-to-use are preferable to concentrates which require mixing. Sales data are difficult to acquire and generally are kept proprietary and confidential by stores.
Effect on weed ‘n feed sales? They do not encourage use of weed ‘n feed but do not have sales data. OWOW does not encourage fertilization – more emphasis on right plant, right place. MAIN THRUST: PROVIDING A FULLY INFORMED CHOICE TO CONSUMER
Focus is IPM training for store employees, rather than direct training of consumers.
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Next Steps:
Useful to have another call? Yes, Green and Koplinka-Loehr to coordinate again, identify and recruit presenters. Allow more time for each presenter.
Meet at National IPM Symposium in conjunction with one of the related talks? Yes, Green and K-L will follow up with George to schedule.
Great Lakes Basin proposal? Anyone interested in participating in a collaborative proposal to Basin funders should contact Green or
Koplinka-Loehr.
