Lindsay Lohan isn't the only one trying to rehabilitate a tarnished reputation. When the federal government announced funding to support specialty crops last week, $180,000 was awarded to the Watsonville-based Alliance for Food and Farming to "correct the public’s misconceptions about pesticide residues," according to a post on the California Watch blog.

The group aims to generate more balanced media reporting and change the public perception about the safety of produce when it comes to pesticide residues.

Not everyone is happy about the funding allocation. A spokesman for the Environmental Working Group asked, “Is it in California’s best interest to use taxpayers' money to give chemical-dependent industrial or conventional farming a competitive edge over organics?”

The alliance is undeterred by such comments.

“We really want to emphasize that we are not about discouraging information,” alliance executive director Marilyn Dolan was quoted. “We are about encouraging consumption of all fruits and vegetables – both organic and conventional.”

The money will help educate consumers about risks and benefits of eating fresh produce.

“Consumers are not eating enough fruit and vegetables, and part of that may be a fear of pesticides,” she said.

For more information about the specialty crops grants, see this ANR News Blog post.