Blueberry blues: how the cash crop is causing a contamination crisis in Coffs Harbour

High levels of pesticides are used to grow commercial blueberries – and the intensive farms are threatening the NSW north coast. Photograph: Kate Geraghty

In a region once famous for its Big Banana, blueberries are now the dominant crop. The berries account for $200m of the $250m agriculture industry in the Coffs Harbour district.

But with the change of use came concerns in this idyllic community on the New South Wales mid north coast about the environmental impact of pesticides and fertiliser runoff from these intensive farms. It may now be reaching a crisis, according to some scientists.