The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Objective(s):
The objective of this workshop is to address quarantine treatments for market exports of tropical fruit, vegetables, and ornamental crops. Commercial treatments and those under research, and their effects on crop quality will be discussed.

Hawaii’s horticultural crops represent 65% of the agricultural market value, with fresh fruits and ornamental crops being major export commodities. However, the State of Hawaii is under stringent regulations to export its horticultural crops to the mainland United States and to Pacific Rim countries because of the possible presence of quarantine pests such as tephritid fruit flies, whiteflies, scales, mealy bugs, plant hoppers, and banana moth. Limiting the development of insect pests is conducted in a system’s approach pre- and postharvest. Postharvest pest control can be greatly enhanced when populations are reduced prior to harvest using appropriate chemical sprays. Postharvest quarantine treatments include chemical dips, fogs and aerosols, hot water treatments, low dose irradiation, and controlled atmosphere.  Each treatment needs to be optimized for the target pests with minimal impact on the commodity. This workshop will give an overview of the most current methods used by the fruit and ornamental industry.