StonyFIELDS Initiative

At Stonyfield Organic we’ve cared about the organic fields where our cows graze and the fields where our fruits and veggies grow for over 35 years. Today we extend that commitment to new fields, the playing fields. Over 26 million kids play sports on fields* and 65% of fields are sprayed with harmful pesticides**. It’s time for a change!

We are taking on our biggest mission yet - to help to make all playing fields organic and free from harmful pesticides. Together with the support of experts and advocates like Beyond Pesticides, Non-Toxic Neighborhoods, and Osborne Organics, we will be helping communities and families across America take the necessary steps to manage fields and our own backyards organically and free from the use of harmful pesticides.

Because the air you breathe and the fields you play in are just as important as the food you eat

In a recent survey^†, we found that while the majority of American parents (69%) are looking to lessen exposure to pesticides in food, nearly the same number of parents (67%) do not consider sports fields, playgrounds and parks to be of concern. Yet most of the playing fields and parks kids play on are treated with a chemical cocktail of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Many of the commonly used chemicals are either proven or likely endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with the development of children’s immune, reproductive, and metabolic systems.Today, 68% of US parents are more likely to buy a product labelled organic, their primary reason being to avoid pesticides, but we believe food is just one part of the preventative health equation - and we want to help families and communities avoid toxic chemicals in their food and beyond.

1. Glyphosate is deemed a potential carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a subdivision of the World Health Organization
2. Pochettino AA, Bongiovanni B, Duffard RO, Evangelista de Duffard AM. 2011 Mar 3.
*2015 SIFA Trends
**Potential Health Effects Related To Pesticide Use on Athletic Fields. R Gilden-E Friedmann-B Sattler-K Squibb-K McPhaul - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22512421
†Stonyfield and Lindberg International surveyed 1,000 adults age 18 and older, comprised of 500 parents with children living at home, in January 2018.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

Please join us in celebrating and supporting the towns across America who have already begun to take steps to reduce the use of harmful pesticides on the playing fields in their community. This map shows towns and cities that have comprehensive policies in place to restrict use of toxic pesticides in community spaces. For more communities that have passed ordinances restricting pesticide use, check out Beyond Pesticides map here.

Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc

Landrigan is the Professor of Biology and Director of the Global Public Health Program at Boston College and Professor Emeritus of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. For four decades, Prof. Landrigan has been a thought leader in environmental medicine. His early studies of lead poisoning demonstrated that lead is toxic to children even at very low levels and contributed to the US government’s decision to remove lead from paint and gasoline, actions that reduced population mean blood lead levels in the USA by more than 90%. A landmark study he led in the early 1990’s at the National Academy of Sciences defined children’s unique susceptibilities to pesticides and other toxic chemicals and catalyzed fundamental revamping of US pesticide policy.

Non-Toxic Neighborhoods

Non-Toxic Neighborhoods is a program of Farmer’s Footprint devoted to protecting children from harmful and synthetic pesticides that are linked to negative health impacts. Non-Toxic Neighborhoods' national movement provides parents with the tools they need, and practitioners with the training they need, to end the use of glyphosate and other harmful pesticides in their communities. NTN has created a free PLAYbook with a step-by-step guide so you can help your school district and city do the same! NTN and their advisors believe that it should be a basic human right for children to be protected from pesticides where they play and learn. Non-Toxic Neighborhoods is leading the way with endorsements from Dr. Jane Goodall and every parent and child whose health and wellbeing are safe because of their efforts and work and partnership with Stonyfield Organic!