Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-043-025-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 15, 2020
End Date: Jul 14, 2023
Objective:
Develop novel postharvest treatments, methods for residue analysis, and techniques to eliminate the atmospheric input of sulfuryl fluoride, a key alternative to methyl bromide fumigation.
Approach:
Conduct research outlined in USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service grant #2020-08, Year 2: Conduct commercial-scale fumigation trials using dried fruit and tree nuts consistent with international phytosanitary guidelines and quantify residues per European Union and/or Codex requirements; Confirm residue results using mass-labeled sulfuryl fluoride; Identify improved techniques/methodologies to quantify fluoride and sulfuryl fluoride residues that result from postharvest fumigation of dried fruit and tree nuts.Finally, an economic cost analysis will be conducted. ARS will work with industry to transfer results to industry, USEPA, and USDA APHIS.
