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Get OFF off my Fruit! Update...
16 days and counting with no new Oriental Fruit Fly finds.
At this rate, the quarantine is estimated to end February 23. The actual date depends finding no more flies during the entire interval. At this point, were another fly to be found, it would likely extend the quarantine by another 45 days (another full life cycle), so let's all remain vigilant. It's going to be too easy to relax, but we can't until this is completely over.
In the meantime, here at the farm we have completed the first 30 days of our pre-harvest spray program, and are now allowed to harvest our fruiting crops - hence the persimmons and carambolas in our offering. We are using GF-120 Naturalyte, a Spinosad-based bait that is approved for use in organic production. It is applied under leaves on nearby trees and bushes around the farm (not directly on the fruit). Spinosad is a natural product and together with methyl eugenol, the Oriental Fruit Fly male pheromone attractant, works by luring any male flies that might be around away from the fruit. It eats the bait and dies. Without males, any females will not be able to reproduce and will die. It's very effective, but we have to apply it every 6-10 days until the quarantine is over. It is costly - approximately $130 for a gallon of the material, enough to cover just one application on 6 acres, plus labor. You need to make 3-4 applications per month.
Many small growers have elected to abandon their fruit crops rather than spend additional money treating it. Others have delayed planting. Now that we've had over 2 weeks with no new flies found, they are beginning to plant and will start their pre-harvest treatments 30 days before harvest begins.
It is CRITICAL that we do not help this fly spread by moving untreated or undocumented fruit out of the quarantine area - unfortunately, every day fruit is confiscated from folks attempting to smuggle it out.
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