Santa Cruz County tests steam as alternative to chemical fumigants in berry fields

Santa Cruz County will test whether steam can replace chemical soil fumigants in berry fields, a move aimed at reducing pesticide use near schools and other community locations while exploring a more sustainable way to control pests.

The $175,000 pilot project, funded by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, will begin this summer in the Pajaro Valley, where several berry growers will use high-temperature steam to treat soil before planting instead of conventional pre-plant fumigation. The research will continue into 2027, county officials said in a statement Thursday.