From apples supposedly poisoned by the growth chemical Alar to the alleged commercial viability of wind power, green groups have been wrong at least as often as they have been proved right.
The American apple industry plunged into utter disarray in 1989 after a 60 Minutes segment alleged cancer risks from Alar, a chemical used to synchronize the ripening of fruit on apple trees.
Agricultural-product disparagement statutes, which were dreamt up by a congressman after alarms over the use of Alar, an agro-chemical, damaged his apple business in 1989, shield farmers from criticism in a way no other industry can claim.