[eYrKEC2]

Yes, modern pesticides degrade. Farmers keep very detailed spray records and fields have essentially "lock out, tag out" times after certain spray applications. Other sprays can't be applied X number of days before harvest, because the application's degradation isn't complete. After harvest, produce who's skin is consumed, like apples, go through a "drencher" and later "dump tank", to perform more washing of the produce's skin.