I write on behalf of the farmers who sell their produce at the farmers’ market in Ta’ Qali and this with reference to the two articles that were published in this newspaper entitled: ‘13% of fruit and veg had excessive pesticides’ (February 8) and ‘One in every five vegetables contains illegal amounts of pesticide – Pitkalija and Ta’ Qali tests reveal alarming rise in use of chemicals’ (April 11).

Regretfully, we note that in these articles, the author makes no distinction between the Ta’ Qali farmers’ market and other markets in Malta, such as the Pitkalija market or other farmers’ markets around the island.

Furthermore, the author expressly attributes allegations to the farmers at the Ta’ Qali farmers’ market which are untrue and unfounded. In fact, none of the farmers at this market have been banned from entering the market and none were subjected to court action as has been alleged in both articles.

The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority has tested a number of fruit and vegetable items sold at the Ta’ Qali farmers’ market and, to date, no farmer has been either suspended or charged in court.

The sellers at the Ta’ Qali farmers’ market have no qualms with the use of foreign laboratories for testing

In both articles, the author claims that the “use of foreign laboratories has long irked sellers who set up stalls at the market”. This sentence is incorrect and untrue. The sellers at the Ta’ Qali farmers’ market have no qualms with the use of foreign laboratories for testing and have, in fact, voluntarily and regularly submitted their produce to these tests. The results prove that none of the sellers were prohibited from selling their produce at this market.

My clients also note that these articles do not distinguish between those fruits and vegetables that were tested and others that were not. Each year, the competent authorities carry out tests on a specified list of fruits and vegetables while other fruits and vegetables are not tested during that particular year. Unfortunately, both these articles place all fruits and vegetables (whether tested or not) in the same basket.   Furthermore, it is not clear why in the article of the April 11 the writer extensively copies chunks from the previous article dated February 8, as if the author needed to fill up the second article.

One would have expected that in the period between both articles, the writer would have verified his facts prior to repeating the same mistakes in the second article. Furthermore, in the online version of the April 2017 article, the electronic link made to the February 8 article is entitled ‘READ: Too many pesticides at Ta’ Qali Market’ when the actual title of that article is completely different and makes no reference to the Ta’ Qali market.

All of the above has caused grave and serious prejudice to the interests of the Ta’ Qali farmers’ market sellers as the attendance and sales at this market has been negatively affected as a result of the two articles.

On this note, my clients reserve the right to take the competent action as required to safeguard their interests.

Leonard Caruana is a lawyer.

Editorial note:

Any errors in the original articles are regretted and the Times of Malta apologises for any inconvenience caused.

For the record, however, the following points need to be raised.

The data reproduced in the February 8 article came from official sources. The official information spoke of samples of different products being taken from different farmers and then added that, in the case of produce found over the limit, the “farmers concerned were notified to the Pitkalija…”, would be banned from entering the place and also faced court action. Regrettably, the article on this newspaper referred to “the farmers’ market in Ta’ Qali”. The Pitkalija vegetable market too is situated at Ta’ Qali.

With regard to objections to tests being made, this newspaper spoke to vendors at the farmers’ market in Ta’ Qali (not the Pitkalija) who complained, as was reported, not about the tests themselves but about the long wait to get the results.

Dr Caruana complains that the articles made “no distinction between the Ta’ Qali market and other markets in Malta…” In both articles, the Times of Malta made a distinction between farmers rather than the markets, pointing out that, at times, “honest farmers get caught in the crossfire of the war on excessive pesticide use”.