Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-043-068-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2023
End Date: Sep 1, 2024
Objective:
Conducting confirmatory tests on thrips and mites following ethyl formate fumigation on bulk fruit in totes as well as packed fruit in palletized cartons.
Approach:
Utilize a cooperative effort between USDA-ARS, USDA-APHIS, California industry, and foreign counterparts to address pest-related barriers to export, and particularly the use of ethyl formate to control gray mold and insect pests. This project is planned in phases, each phase will have its own goals, and these goals will feed those of the following phase. Year 1 will involve the evaluation of the sorption of ethyl formate by blueberries in two scenarios, as well as the desorption as related to potential worker exposure. This year, Year 2, will involve confirmatory testing of insect mortality in the two scenarios. Year 3 will be dedicated to completing research and technology transfer to industry and regulators, including the USDA-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
