The Jakarta Post, The Associated Press, Tue, 05/17/2011
The overuse of a chemical that helps fruit grow faster is causing a rash of exploding watermelons in eastern China.
An investigative report by China Central Television airing Tuesday found farms in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem.
It said farmers sprayed too much growth promoter, hoping they could get fruit to market ahead of season and make more money.
China is battling rampant misuse of pesticides, fertilizers and food additives, like dyes and sweeteners, meant to make food more attractive and boost sales.
In this photo taken Friday May 13, 2011, a farmer shows a watermelon
that had bursted in his rented greenhouse in Danyang city in eastern China's
Jiangsu province. Watermelon fields in eastern China are a mess of burst fruit
after farmers abused growth chemicals in an attempt to make extra money but
ended up ruining their crops, state media reported Tuesday May 17, 2011.
(AP Photo) CHINA OUT
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