Mexico is a significant destination for U.S. agricultural exports. For California’s stone fruit industry, Mexico is a nearby, high-value market. However, for fruits like peaches, nectarines, and apricots to qualify for transport to this region, growers must adhere to an export program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA).
What Does the Mexico Stone Fruit Export Program Require of Growers?
The Mexico export program has set pesticide residue limits as well as phytosanitary and monitoring requirements that California stone fruit growers must keep in mind throughout the growing season.
While pesticides are valuable integrated pest management tools for growers, the Mexico program regulates the type of pesticide applied and their residue limits. Stone fruit growers hoping to export their crop to Mexico are encouraged to carefully time their end of season pesticide applications and verify maximum residue limits before shipment. To verify the maximum acceptable levels of pesticides in agricultural products in the US, growers may check the Pesticide Maximum Residue database or the USDA’s Assisting Specialty Crop Exports quick MRL sheets.
Growers must also follow phytosanitary requirements to receive a phytosanitary certificate issued by USDA APHIS and Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ). This certificate confirms that fruit has been inspected, is free of pests and diseases, and has met plant-health standards required by the importing country. A valid phytosanitary certificate including commodity description, origin, quantity, and packing information accompanies shipments of stone fruit to Mexico. Growers can use the Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking system (PCIT) to obtain a certificate.
Careful monitoring of fields for pests throughout the growing season is also an export program requirement. Stone fruit growers may use traps baited with pheromone lures and perform visual fruit inspections to confirm low pressure of key pests and absence of quarantine pests within the system. If pest thresholds are crossed, growers must demonstrate that they have taken appropriate measures to control pests and maintain records of treatment.
How Does Oriental Fruit Moth Impact Stone Fruit?
Oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta) is a key pest of stone fruit and threatens export eligibility to Mexico. It is found in all stone fruit growing regions of the United States and infests peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, and other valuable stone fruits. OFM larvae cause damage to plant shoots by boring into twigs to feed. A telltale infestation sign in are twigs with wilted terminal leaves. OFM larvae also contribute to feeding damage on fruit, which manifests as gummy fruit texture and visible saw dust-like frass.
Photo: Washington State University
Photo: Washington State University
Mexico treats Oriental fruit moth as a quarantine pest and expects all fruit exported to be free of OFM. This means that stone fruit growers must monitor for OFM regularly and utilize pesticides and other IPM tactics such as mating disruption to keep populations low.
Mating Disruption’s Role in Export Plans
Export integrated pest management plans take proactive measures throughout the season to keep Oriental fruit moth populations at bay as opposed to rushed clean up sprays towards harvest. This aligns with the approach of mating disruption, as it preventatively lowers pest populations by reducing the ability of male moths to locate females for reproduction all season long.
Suterra offers several pheromone platforms proven to reduce Oriental fruit moth damage in stone fruits:
Historically, the Mexico program has only allowed growers to utilize passive release mating disruption dispensers in stone fruit exported to Mexico. The organizations responsible for outlining the requirements of the program should consider that Puffer or sprayable are also excellent options and save growers time and labor costs when it comes to deployment.
Key takeaway: For California stone fruit growers targeting the Mexico market, integrating mating disruption into export plans makes it easier to:
For more information on Suterra mating disruption platforms for control of Oriental fruit moth, contact a member of our team here.