California activists escalate fight against pesticide use near schools
Community groups are demanding expanded buffer zones and a phase-out of hazardous fumigants near educational facilities in Pajaro Valley.
On June 18, 2026, more than 100 protesters gathered outside the corporate headquarters of Driscoll’s in Watsonville, California, to demand an end to the use of organophosphate pesticides near Pajaro Valley schools. The rally, labeled “Enough is Enough,” served as the climax of a year-long campaign led by groups including the Campaign for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) and Safe Ag Safe Schools. The activists are pushing for the expansion of safety buffer zones around schools from the current quarter-mile to one full mile.
The protest specifically targeted Driscoll’s, the world’s largest berry company, which partners with over 900 independent farmers. Despite marketing an organic line, the company relies heavily on conventional pesticides for many of its products. Protesters highlighted that the Pajaro Valley Unified School District has seen more than 1.7 million pounds of fumigants applied within its borders, marking it as the highest usage area among all school districts in the state of California.
A significant point of contention is the use of the fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene, classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen. While this chemical is banned in 34 countries, including all members of the European Union, it remains in widespread use across California under the brand name Telone. Mark Weller, campaign director for Californians for Pesticide Reform, criticized the state's regulatory system, arguing that the government continues to prioritize the interests of the chemical industry over public health.
The debate over pesticide impacts reached a boiling point following a June 2026 report by the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency. While the report claimed that childhood cancer rates in the county were not significantly higher than statewide averages, activists rejected the findings. They pointed to air quality monitoring results at Ohlone Elementary School, where concentrations of 1,3-dichloropropene were found to be more than twice the state’s lifetime cancer risk threshold, casting doubt on official assurances.
Protesters presented five primary demands to policymakers, including strict requirements for notice of intent regarding any pesticide application. Given that Santa Cruz County ranked fourth in California for pediatric cancer incidence rates among children under 15 between 2018 and 2022, the local community remains resolute in its call for a complete phase-out of fumigants. The ongoing pushback underscores a growing tension between agricultural production practices and the health of communities living adjacent to large-scale farming operations.