Florida law has established the following criteria when using reclaimed water to irrigate fruits and vegetables:
- The fruit or vegetable must be cooked, skinned, peeled or thermally processed before consumption, or
- If the fruit or vegetable will not be cooked, skinned, peeled or thermally processed before consumption, the irrigation method used must not allow direct contact between the edible fruit or vegetable and the reclaimed water.
To help meet this requirement, drip, microspray or ridge and furrow irrigation methods can be used in your garden area.
The following are examples of common fruits and vegetables grown in Florida gardens. They are grouped according to the appropriate reclaimed water irrigation method.
Direct Method:
- Citrus
- Guava
- Avocado
- Pineapple
- Banana
- Peanuts
- Mango
- Watermelon
Indirect Method (drip, microspray, ridge and furrow):
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Blackberries
- Grapes
- Cucumbers
- Herbs
- Blueberries
- Greens
- Peaches
- Strawberries