Demeter Earth

🌱 Vermont has become the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, a widely used herbicide that has been linked in numerous studies to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

The ban takes effect on November 1. Farmers using paraquat on fruit-producing orchards, berries, and other small fruit crops will have until 2030 to transition away from the herbicide.

🌿 Supporters call the law a landmark public health victory.

Could Vermont’s decision be the start of a broader national shift in pesticide policy?