Eighty-five percent of consumers keep at least one pesticide in their household, according to a 1992 US EPA survey. Most consumers turn to home and garden retailers for pesticide advice, yet according to a 1995 Illinois survey, only 34% of retailers provide staff training on pesticides sold in their stores.

This presents a great opportunity for IPM devotees to improve retailer education in the IPM realm. These key influencers of consumer behavior need skills in basic pesticide safety, pest identification and IPM-based recommendations including both non-chemical and chemical options.

A number of innovative programs tackling this need are described on the IPM Institute website, along with other related resources and references. For example, in the Grow Green Program based in Austin, TX, IPM professionals have created DVDs for training retailers on general principles of less toxic gardening and lawn care. The Chesapeake Club Advertising Campaign is also described, where program staff have produced a series of TV commercials designed to educate consumers to delay lawn fertilization until the fall season. Another program, Our Water Our World, has been operating since 1997. Over 80 Orchard Supply Hardware stores throughout California participate in OWOW by distributing pest fact sheets to consumers.

Professionals with a broad variety of backgrounds and interests have met by conference call and in conjunction with the 2006 IPM Symposium to share information and ideas for moving forward on IPM education for retailers and consumers. The calls are hosted by the USDA Northeastern IPM Center and the IPM Institute. To join this network and receive information about future events, please contact us.