I just read an alarming article on the French website Fructidor.fr

According to their source which is a Turkish website Called Hurriet.com.tr. I will translate:

"The committee responsible for evaluating the harvest date of the Bursa fig, renowned throughout the world for its caliber, taste and quality, decided to advance the date from 10 August to 9 August, given the weather conditions Particularly hot, having favored the maturity of the fruits.
90 percent of Turkish black figs are harvested in the Bursa area, which typically harvests some 25,000 tonnes per year, of which about 60-70 percent is exported, providing excellent income for its producers.
This year, an alarm was given so that producers do not use a chemical, the Ethepon, which allows an earlier maturity of the fruit, up to fines for those who use it."

Oh my gosh what is this "Ethepon"?  

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethephon#Action

"TRADE OR OTHER NAMES: The active ingredient ethephon is found in a variety of commercial herbicides. Trade names for products containing ethephon include Arvest, Bromeflor, Etheverse, Flordimex, Flordimex T-Extra, Cerone, Etherel, Chipco Florel Pro and Prep (223, 316).
REGULATORY STATUS: Ethephon is a general use pesticide (GUP). Check with specific state regulations for local restrictions that may apply. Products containing ethephon carry the Signal Words "Danger", "Warning", or "Caution" depending on the product (223).

CHEMICAL CLASS: organic phosphorus compound / ethylene generator / plant growth regulator

INTRODUCTION: Ethephon is a plant growth regulator. Its use varies with plant species, chemical concentration, and time of application. Ethephon regulates phases of plant growth and development by application to various growth sites (1). It is currently registered in the U.S. for use on apples, barley, blackberries, bromeliads, cantaloupes, cherries, coffee, cotton, cucumbers, grapes, guava, macadamia nuts, ornamentals, peppers, pineapples, rye, squash, sugarcane, tobacco, tomatoes, walnuts, wheat, etc. (1, 223, 207). Ethephon's mode of action acts via liberation of ethylene, which is absorbed by the plant and interferes in the growth process (1). It is also used in the acceleration of ripening of fruits and vegetables (302). Ethephon comes in RTU (ready-to-use), emulsifiable concentrate and aqueous solution formulations (223, 316). It may also be used in combination with Terpal (with mepiquat-chloride) and Terpal C (chlormequat-chloride) (223)."


Source http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/ethephon.htm

Another reason to grow your own. 

These PGRs have even hit the hydroponics industry. Many medical growers are concerned about this too. The use of PGRs is unfortunatly spreading.

Hi,
Ever heard about how farmers regulate the number of apples per flowering bud ?
You probably know that an apple tree will make flowers in clusters . Of course, if you want big apples, you can't let them 5 flowers per bud turn into apples.
You must keep just one ... I had heard they used a chem for that, but without telling the name... I guess that you just have found it ...
So this chem is widely used, and not just in figs ... So the question is why did that problem rise now ? Too high a concentration ? ...

"but all fruits raised in the industry are safe to eat" ... We can rest and feed our child with ... Really ???
We probably just need to not be paranoid ... But keep our eyes opened .

Chemicals.  They're kind of everywhere.  You'd think eating wheat bread was healthy.  Not when the farmers spray glyphosate on the plants to dry down the leaves so they car harvest the wheat more efficiently.  Bigger harvest for the farmer, but now the wheat has been sprayed with chemicals, the soil for the next crop has been sprayed with chemicals.  Gibberellic acid to plump up grapes:  "This material is considered hazardous by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR1910.1200)."  GMO salmon that grow twice as fast as regular farm raised salmon, but don't worry about those pesky studies that show tumors and cancers in GMO testing on mice.  If you had a choice over a chemically altered product versus a naturally grown one, you'd probably choose the natural one.  But if you don't know it's been chemically treated because there's no label, you'll probably choose the lease expensive one.  That's why "they" don't want labels and full disclosure.

There's so much sickness and disease in the world now.  Theoretically Methuselah lived 969 years.  They didn't have all that stuff back then.  Not that I would want to live that long, but however long I have I don't want to be pushed out the door with hidden crap in the food I have to eat.

"It is manufactured by Rhône-Poulenc (Bayer Crop Science) and Jiangsu Anpon Electrochemicals Co. in China". Wikepedia.

When you learn of how widely it is used you have to pause and ask if we are being told the truth about its safety.

A EPA paper published in 2006 says that
" On average about 4.1 million pounds of ethephon are used annually on 1.7 million acres. The crops with highest percent crop treated are tart cherries (61%), grapes (40%), processed tomatoes (15%), and cotton (10%). "

Now according to Wikepedia,

"It is often used on wheat, coffee, tobacco, cotton, and rice in order to help the plant's fruit reach ripeness more quickly.

Cotton is the most important single crop use for ethephon. It initiates fruiting over a period of several weeks, promotes early concentrated boll opening, and enhances defoliation to facilitate and improve efficiency of scheduled harvesting. Harvested cotton quality is improved.

Ethephon also is widely used by pineapple growers to initiate reproductive development (force) of pineapple. Ethephon is also sprayed on mature-green pineapple fruits to degreen them to meet produce marketing requirements. There can be some detrimental effect on fruit quality".

Believe it or not the "testing" of these chemicals is done by the corporations seeking approval. Do you really believe they would submit any carcinogenic or otherwise unsafe data? Bayer/Monsanto they are all in charge of the regulatory process. Grow as much of your own food as possible. My entire property is covered with edible crops. FU to Monsanto.