Berry giant Driscoll's is facing multiple legal challenges, including consumer lawsuits alleging "forever chemicals" and pesticide cover-ups, while simultaneously suing a mobile app startup for spreading false claims. The Watsonville-based company denies the allegations of misconduct, affirming its commitment to food safety and regulatory standards.

Watsonville berry giant Driscoll’s is fighting a legal war on three fronts, facing two new consumer lawsuits alleging pesticide cover-ups and undisclosed “forever chemicals” while suing a mobile app startup it says is spreading false claims about its berries on social media.

In the first, a class action suit filed in San Jose federal court in June, consumers from multiple states target the company’s use of the synthetic compounds. That filing closely followed a Ventura County lawsuit by a former employee who claims he was fired for refusing to assist in pesticide cover-ups. Meanwhile, Driscoll’s own lawsuit targets the founders of a farmers market locator app.

Though Driscoll’s first began growing berries in the Pajaro Valley in the early 1900s, the company no longer grows the berries it sells. Instead, it licenses its patented, proprietary berry varieties to a global network of independent growers, who manage their own fields and package strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries under the Driscoll’s label. While company executives say Driscoll’s works hard to ensure its growers meet high quality standards, food...

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