AZE.US
A viral video showing chemical substances being mixed at a strawberry farm in Azerbaijan has triggered public concern over whether early-season strawberries are being grown safely.
The footage, reportedly filmed in Privolnoye village in the Jalilabad district, spread widely on social media and prompted questions from consumers about what exactly is being used in strawberry cultivation before the natural harvest season begins. In the video, farmer Natiq Badirov appears to describe the use of various substances on the crop. He later told ATV that the recording had been made as a joke among acquaintances and was taken out of context online.
According to the farmer, the products shown were used against rodents and pests, not to make the fruit dangerous for consumers. Other growers interviewed in the report also defended current practices, saying the substances they use are mainly biological preparations and do not pose a threat to human health when applied properly.
Still, the controversy has added to broader public unease over off-season produce. Food safety specialists interviewed by local media said strawberries grown before their normal season can carry risks if fertilizers or plant protection chemicals are overused or applied incorrectly. They warned that efforts to speed up ripening and increase profits may sometimes push producers to exceed safe limits.
Experts said the issue begins with the soil itself. Before planting, they noted, growers should test the land to determine how much nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium it contains, then add only what is necessary. Excessive nitrogen use, they said, can make the fruit swell unnaturally fast and increase nitrate levels, which in some cases may lead to health problems, including poisoning.
They also advised caution for children and pregnant women, saying such groups should avoid consuming excessive amounts of early-season strawberries before more is known about how the crop was grown. Specialists added that strawberries harvested in their natural season are usually smaller, more natural in appearance and often better in taste.
Vendors say strawberries are currently being sold for around 4 to 8 manats per kilogram, with supplies mainly coming from Shamkir, Jalilabad and Lankaran. Sellers also acknowledge that the berries now on the market are largely greenhouse-grown, while open-field strawberries are expected to arrive closer to May.
Azerbaijan’s Food Safety Agency said the farm seen in the video has been placed under inspection. Officials collected samples of both the substances used at the site and the strawberries grown there for laboratory testing. The agency also said the farm owner was informed about proper handling procedures, safety rules and regulatory requirements.
For now, no final conclusion has been issued. The lab results have not yet been released, meaning there is still no official basis to declare the strawberries unsafe. But the episode has once again highlighted how quickly public trust can erode when produce appears on the market well before its expected season and questions emerge over what may have been used to get it there.