Is hydroponic produce grown without pesticides? Are they usually genetically modified?

Question

I notice that the hydroponic tomatoes in my market look like they are a lot better quality than the others- even the organic. In the Northeast US you almost never find red ripe tomatoes unless you go to a farmer's market. The hydroponics are always nice and red- the rest- hard and orange. But I wonder if they are GMO? And if they aren't GMO and not grown with pesticides, it's the next best thing to organic, right? Maybe even better because you can actually taste them.

Answer 1

Likely not GMO as I do not believe there is a GMO tomato on the market currently. There have been a couple in the past but the flavor was so bad(said to taste like kerosene) they were pulled from the market and commercial growers refused to grow them.

If you want to be sure look at the sticker. If the number starts with an 8 it is a GMO, if the number starts with a 9 it is certified organic. if it is a 4 digit number it is conventionally grown but not GMO.

Hydroponics is not the same as organic (though there are organic hydroponic farms). The nutrient slurry fed to plants is not a natural feed, it is chemical fertilizer.

Greenhouses do get pest problems and so it is not unknown for a hydroponic operation to use poisons in the houses to kill off the pests.

Food grown in dirt generally tastes better than food grown with a chemical slurry as the slurry does not have the complete supply of nutrients one usually will find with healthy soil, especially well managed organic soil.

Answer 2

Hydroponics is growing plants without soil. They grow in just  water. they have to keep them in a very controlled environment, indoors, controlling temperature, amouts and types of fertilizer, amount of ultravoilet radiation they recieve. they control every aspect of growth making them better tomatoes. Organic produce actually contains the same amount of chemicals as regular produce because even though they didn't use pesticides the neighbours did or they used to use chemicals and they are still in the soil. Organic produce is more expensive because they use alternate methods of pest control which are more expensive but the product is exactly the same. Hydroponically grown produce is superior. Most hydroponic produce is grown in caves far from the surface. Far from pests, they dont need pesticides, but it is a more expensive way of farming.

Answer 3

As far as hydroponic grown products are concerned, very less and mild insecticides are used (if necessary - this is sometimes necessary), however most are grown by feeding 'chemical fertilizers' or even 'chemicals'! If you consider; this in itself is questionable!!! (Pesticides is not the only problem, fertilizers are also - think)

Experiments are being carried out to develop 'organic hydroponic vegetables' around the world; especially in India, with limited success.

Pitch red or blood red tomatoes does not mean they are better, don't go for looks go for nutrient values (not easy to judge by looks.)

Cauliflower for example, snow-white cauliflower is inferior to cream color or off-white cauliflower!

Answer 4

They are grown indoors in carefully controlled environments.

Care is taken to avoid insects getting into the buildings, so generally speaking there is not a lot of need for insecticides as there is in a field.

No they are not GM

Crops these days are grown to look good.

This does not always mean they are the best.

Answer 5

Hydroponics just means that they are grown indoors in an artificial media and all of the nutrients were supplied with the water. They may or may not have had pesticides applied. They may or may not be GMO. There is no way of knowing just because they were grown hydroponically. Most greenhouse grown tomatoes do have some pesticide used on them. Just because they are grown inside it doesn't mean that they are less susceptible to insect attack. As far as GMO there aren't very many tomatoes being grown today that are, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Answer 6

See the answers for white flys and do an internet search for hydroponic produce.  

Next best thing to organic.  LOL.  Organic has been highjacked by the USDA, so even this label has problems.

Answer 7

THey are grown indoors and hand checked to make sure no bugs have reached them. That means insecticides are  not needed.

They are not GMO because they are aimed at purchasers  who are afraid of GMO.

Answer 8

Don't kid yourself...

If it is not labelled organically grown and certified as such there are all sorts of chemicals used in the production of hydroponic tomatoes.

If they see the need to use pesticides they will.

The same goes for the genetics of the tomato, if it is not certified they can do anything they want to get it to market.

The reason they look sooo good is they are hand picked and the uglies are tossed out long before they are sent to any store.

Red skin isn't always a reflection of the flavor inside the tomato.

Give me homegrown any day.

Answer 9

Usually the the most bothersome insect in a greenhouse (or hydroponic operation, same difference) is the white fly. If the greenhouse (hydroponic operation) has whiteflies, unless it is certified organic, they will probably treat with an insecticide.

If they aren't marked "certified organic" the grower probably used pesticides if they had a pest problem.