True Organic launches EPA-registered organic burndown herbicide for commercial growers

True Organic has expanded its offerings with TRUE Choke-Out Herbicide, an EPA-registered and OMRI-listed burndown herbicide that provides rapid control of annual and perennial weeds in organic and conventional agriculture. The Monterey, California-based company reports the product is now available for commercial use in select U.S. states and is intended for pre-plant burndown, post-harvest cleanup, and in-season weed control.

The non-selective contact herbicide contains plant-derived capric and caprylic acids, which rapidly desiccate weed foliage. The company states that visible drying begins within hours, with complete weed control possible within 2 to 3 days under proper conditions. As a non-systemic formulation, it remains on the plant surface, making it suitable for localized weed management in crops such as field crops, leafy greens, grapes, tree nuts, blueberries, and fruiting vegetables. The product can also be used as a harvest aid, crop desiccant, sucker control treatment, and for lettuce thinning.

True Organic reports that the herbicide was evaluated over a 3-year field-testing program. In California almond orchard trials, it provided greater weed suppression than a competing organic herbicide against winter weeds such as groundsel, wild oat, little mallow, prickly lettuce, London rocket, and fiddleneck seven days after treatment. Blueberry trials showed that repeated targeted applications improved control of difficult weeds while reducing the treated area compared to broadcast applications. The herbicide is supplied as an emulsifiable concentrate that can be diluted to various strengths and applied with conventional ground-spray equipment.

Jake Evans, owner and chief executive of True Organic, stated that this launch broadens the company’s focus beyond soil fertility by adding an organic-compliant weed management tool designed for rapid performance in commercial agriculture. Founded in 2003, True Organic is one of the largest organic fertilizer manufacturers on the U.S. West Coast, producing certified organic fertilizers and soil health products for commercial growers.