Importation of Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) from 

Chile into the continental United States

A Qualitative, Pathway-Initiated Pest Risk Assessment

March 26, 2014

Version 1

Agency Contact:

Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory

Center for Plant Health Science and Technology

United States Department of Agriculture 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 300

Raleigh, NC 27606
Pest Risk Assessment for Cranberry from Chile

Ver. 1 March 26, 2014 i

Executive Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) prepared this risk assessment document to examine plant pest risks 

associated with importing commercially produced fruit of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon

(Ericaceae), for consumption from Chile into the continental United States. Based on the market 

access request from Chile, cranberries will be washed and dried, and maintained at 5 °C. All 

processes and conditions considered during the risk assessment process become mandatory

conditions for entry of the commodity.

Cranberry production in Chile is noted to have very few insect and pathogen problems (Stang, 

1997). Based on the scientific literature, port-of-entry pest interception data, and information 

from the government of Chile, we developed a list of all potential pests with actionable 

regulatory status for the continental United States that are known to occur in Chile and that are 

known to be associated with the commodity plant species anywhere in the world. We found no 

actionable pests that were likely to follow the pathway of fresh cranberry from Chile.
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Table of Contents

Executive Summary....................................................................................................................... i

1. Introduction............................................................................................................................... 1

1.1. Background .......................................................................................................................... 1

1.2. Initiating event...................................................................................................................... 1

1.3. Determination of the necessity of a weed risk assessment for the commodity.................... 1

1.4. Description of the pathway................................................................................................... 2

2. Pest List and Pest Categorization............................................................................................ 3

2.1. Pests considered but not included on the pest list ................................................................ 3

2.2. Pest list ................................................................................................................................. 4

3. Summary and Conclusions of Risk Assessment..................................................................... 4

4. Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... 5

5. Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................ 5

6. Appendix: Pests with non-actionable regulatory status........................................................ 7
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1. Introduction 

1.1. Background

This document was prepared by the Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory of the 

Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), to evaluate the risks associated with 

the importation of commercially produced fresh fruit of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon

Aiton) for consumption from Chile into the continental United States.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) provides guidance for conducting pest risk 

analyses. The methods used here are consistent with guidelines provided by the IPPC, 

specifically the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) on “Pest Risk 

Analysis for Quarantine Pests” (IPPC, 2013). The use of biological and phytosanitary terms is 

consistent with the “Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms” (IPPC, 2012). 

Three stages of pest risk analysis are described in international standards: Stage 1, Initiation;

Stage 2, Risk Assessment; and Stage 3, Risk Management. This document satisfies the 

requirements of Stages 1 and 2. 

This is a qualitative risk assessment. We express the risk based on qualitative ratings for the 

likelihood and consequences of pest introduction via the imported commodity from Chile. The 

details of the methodology and rating criteria are found in the Guidelines for Plant Pest Risk 

Assessment of Imported Fruit and Vegetable Commodities, Version 6.0 (PPQ, 2012). 

The appropriate risk management strategy for a particular pest depends on the risk posed by that 

pest. Identification of appropriate phytosanitary measures to mitigate pest risk is undertaken in 

Stage 3 (Risk Management) and is not covered in this risk assessment. Risk management will be 

specified in a separate document.

1.2. Initiating event

The importation of fruits and vegetables for consumption into the United States is regulated 

under Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 319.56 (7 CFR §319.56, 2012). Currently 

the entry of cranberries from Chile into the continental United States is not authorized. This 

assessment was prepared in response to a request from the government of Chile to change the 

Federal Regulation to allow entry (Contesse, 2012).

1.3. Determination of the necessity of a weed risk assessment for the commodity

In some cases, the imported commodity may have the potential of becoming invasive in the pest 

risk analysis (PRA) area. The likelihood that this may happen is evaluated in a weed risk

assessment, conducted separately from the commodity risk assessment.

Weed risk assessments do not need to be conducted for plant species that are widely established 

(native or naturalized) or cultivated in the PRA area, for commodities that are already enterable 
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Ver. 1 March 26, 2014 2

into the PRA area from other countries, or when the plant part(s) cannot easily propagate on their 

own or be propagated. We determined that a weed risk assessment is not needed for cranberries

because they are native to North America (Roper, 2008), and already enterable from Canada into 

all ports of entry in the United States (APHIS, 2014).

1.4. Description of the pathway

The IPPC (2012) defines a pathway as “any means that allows the entry or spread of a pest.” In 

the context of commodity pest risk assessments, the pathway is the commodity to be imported, 

together with all the processes the commodity undergoes that may have an impact on pest risk. In 

this risk assessment, the specific pathway of concern is the importation of fresh fruit of cranberry

(Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) for consumption from Chile into the continental United States; 

the movement of this commodity is a potential pathway for the introduction and/or spread of 

plant pests. 

The following description of this pathway focuses on the conditions that may affect plant pest 

risk, including morphological and physiological characteristics of the commodity, as well as 

processes the commodity will undergo from production in Chile through importation and 

distribution in the continental United States. These conditions provided the basis for creating the 

pest list and assessing the likelihood of introduction of the pests selected for further analysis; 

therefore, all components of the pathway, as they are described below, should be considered 

mandatory conditions for importation of the commodity.

1.4.1. Description of the commodity

Native to North America, cranberry is a low-growing, trailing, woody evergreen vine grown in 

carefully crafted cranberry marshes (Roper, 2008; Stang, 1997). In Chile, fruit ripens in early 

March (Stang, 1997). Cranberry production in Chile is relatively new, only established during 

the 1990s (CABI, 2014; Stang, 1997).

1.4.2. Production and harvest procedures in the exporting area 

Production and harvesting procedures in the exporting area have not been specified.

1.4.3. Post-harvest procedures in the exporting area

Following harvest, the cranberries are washed and dried, and maintained at 5 °C (Vildosola, 

2012).

1.4.4. Shipping and storage conditions

Shipping and storage conditions have not been specified.

1.4.5. Summary of the pathway

The figure below summarizes the pathway of concern: the importation of fresh fruit of cranberry

for consumption from Chile into the continental United States.
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Figure 1. Pathway diagram for imports of cranberries from Chile into the continental United 

States.

2. Pest List and Pest Categorization 

In this section, we identify the plant pests with actionable regulatory status for the continental 

United States that could potentially become established in the continental United States as a 

result of the importation of cranberry from Chile, and we determine which of these pests meet 

the criteria for further analysis. Pests are considered to be of regulatory significance if they are 

actionable at U.S. ports-of-entry. Actionable pests include quarantine pests, pests considered for 

or under official control, and pests that require evaluation for regulatory action.

2.1. Pests considered but not included on the pest list

2.1.1. Pests with weak evidence for association with the commodity

Prado (1991) lists organisms associated with cultivated ‘arandano’ (Vaccinium spp.) in Chile. 

While many of these organisms were included in the prerequisite pest list, we found no evidence 

indicating that they are associated with V. macrocarpon anywhere in the world. Therefore, we 

did not include the following pests in Table 1: Aegorhinus superciliosus germani (Gay y Sol.), 

Ametastagia glabrata (Fallen), Aphis gossypii Glover, Chiromyza paulseni (Phil.), 

Graphognathus leucoloma (Boch.), Heliothis zea (Boddie), Hemiberlesia rapax (Comst.), 

Illinoia lambersi (MacGill.), Leptoglossus chilensis (Spin.), Ligyrus villosus (Burm.), Medonia

deromecoides Sch., Pseudococcus calceolariae (Mask.), Rhyephenes humeralis (Guer.), and 

Tetranychus urticae (Koch).

2.1.2. Organisms with non-actionable regulatory status

We found evidence of the organisms listed in the Appendix being associated with cranberry and 

being present in Chile. Because these organisms have non-actionable regulatory status for the 

continental United States, however, we did not include them in Table 1 of this risk assessment.
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Ver. 1 March 26, 2014 4

2.2. Pest list

In Table 1, we list the actionable pests associated with cranberry that occur in Chile. The list 

contains actionable pests that occur in Chile on any host and are reported to be associated with 

cranberry in Chile or elsewhere in the world. For each pest, we indicate 1) the part of the 

imported plant species with which the pest is generally associated, and 2) whether the pest has a 

reasonable likelihood of being associated, in viable form, with the commodity following 

harvesting from the field and prior to any post-harvest processing. We developed this pest list 

based on the scientific literature, port-of-entry pest interception data, and information provided 

by the government of Chile. Cranberry production in Chile is noted to have very few insect and 

pathogen problems (Stang, 1997). We found no actionable pests that we determined likely to 

follow the pathway of fresh cranberry from Chile.

Table 1. Actionable pests reported on cranberry (in any country) and present in Chile (on any

host).

Pest name Evidence of 

presence in Chile

Association with 

cranberry1

Plant part(s) 

association2

On harvested 

plant 

part(s)?3

Remarks

ARTHROPODS

Lepidoptera: Hepialidae

Dalaca chiliensis

(Viette)

Koch and 

Waterhouse, 2000

Koch and 

Waterhouse, 2000

Leaves, stems 

(Cisternas, 

2000)

No

Dalaca pallens

(Blanchard)

Koch and

Waterhouse, 2000

Koch and 

Waterhouse, 2000

Leaves, stems 

(Cisternas,

2000)

No

3. Summary and Conclusions of Risk Assessment

Of the organisms associated with cranberries worldwide and reported in Chile, we identified no 

organisms that are actionable pests for the continental United States and have a reasonable 

likelihood of being associated with the commodity following harvesting from the field and prior 

to any post-harvest processing. Cranberry production in Chile is noted to have very few insect 

and pathogen problems (Stang, 1997).

 

1

If the pest occurs on the commodity and where appropriate, the host status is indicated. Host types are explained in 

Guidelines for Plant Pest Risk Assessment of Imported Fruit and Vegetable Commodities, Version 6.0 (PPQ, 

2012).

2 The plant part(s) listed are those for the plant species under analysis. If the information is extrapolated, such as 

from plant part association on other plant species, this is noted.

3

“Yes” indicates simply that the pest has a reasonable likelihood of being associated with the harvested commodity; 

the level of pest prevalence on the harvested commodity (low, medium, or high) is qualitatively assessed in Risk 

Element A1 as part of the likelihood of introduction assessment (section 3).
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4. Acknowledgements 

Authors Cynthia Landry, Ecologista

Kayimbi Tubajika, Pathologista

Reviewers Marina Zlotina, Entomologya

John Rogers, Pathologista

a

Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ

5. Literature Cited

7 CFR § 319.56. 2012. U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Part 319 (7 CFR § 319.56 -

Fruits and Vegetables).

Acuña, R. 2008. Compendio de fitopatógenos de cultivos agrícolas en Chile. Santiago de Chile, 

Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero. 89p.

Andrade, N., and N. Loyola. 1993. Determinación e incidencia de patógenos de post cosecha en 

frutos de arándanos (Vaccinium spp.). Simiente 63(1):57.

Antonelli, A., K. Patten, P. Bristow, and C. Shanks. 1991. Cranberry Insect, Disease and Weed 

Control Program (EB0845). Washington State University Cooperative Extension. 8 pp.

APHIS. 2014. Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) Database. United States 

Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 

https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual/index.cfm?ACTION=pubHome. (Archived at 

PERAL).

Ben-Dov, Y., D. R. Miller, and G. A. P. Gibson. 2014. ScaleNet. 

http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/SCALENET/scalenet.htm. (Archived at PERAL).

Blackman, R. L., and V. F. Eastop. 2000. Aphids on the World's Crops: An Identification and 

Information Guide (Second). John Wiley & Sons Ltd., West Sussex, England. 466 pp.

CABI. 2013. Crop Protection Compendium. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International 

(CABI). http://www.cabi.org/cpc/. (Archived at PERAL).

CABI. 2014. Crop Protection Compendium. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International 

(CABI). http://www.cabi.org/cpc/. (Archived at PERAL).

Caruso, F., and D. Ramsdell. 1995. Compendium of Blueberry and Cranberry Diseases. The 

American Phytopathological Society. APS Press, St. Paul, MN, USA. 87p.

Cisternas, E. A. 2000. La Cuncunilla Negra (Informativo Remehue No. 16). Centro Regional de 

Investigacion Remehue, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Ministerio de 

Agricultura. 4 pp.

Contesse, E. O. H. 2012. Chile Cranberry Market Access Request. Personal communication to A. 

K. Dowdy on December 12, 2012, from E. Octavio Herrera Contesse (Agronomic 

Engineer, Chief of Agriculture and Forestry Protection Division, Servicio Agricola y

Ganadero). Archived at PERAL library, Raleigh, NC.

Farr, D. F., and A. Y. Rossman. 2013. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and 

Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved October 10, 2013, from http://nt.arsgrin.gov/fungaldatabases/. (Archived at PERAL).

Fitzpatrick, S. M. 2009. Cranberry Insects: Ecology and Management. Encyclopedia of Pest 

Management:1-6.
Pest Risk Assessment for cranberry from Chile

Ver. 1 March 26, 2014 6

Guerrero, J. 1989. Patógenos asociados con el arándano en Chile. Simiente 59(3-4):116.

Guerrero, J. 1999. Enfermedades del Arándano alto (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) de mayor 

incidencia en el sur de Chile. 69(1-2):52-53.

Guerrero, J. 2001. Situación fitopatológica del arándano alto (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) en la 

IX y X Región. Simiente 71(1-2):33.

IPPC. 2012. International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures, Publication No. 5: Glossary of 

Phytosanitary Terms. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 

Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), Rome, Italy. 38 pp.

IPPC. 2013. International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures, Publication No. 11: Pest Risk 

Analysis for Quarantine Pests. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 

Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), Rome, Italy. 36 pp.

Koch, C. K., and D. F. Waterhouse. 2000. The distribution and importance of arthropods 

associated with agriculture and forestry in Chile. ACIAR, Canberra. 234 pp.

Latorre, B. 1992. Enfermedades de las plantas cultivadas. 3° Edición. U. Católica de Chile, 

Santiago, Chile. 628 p.

Latorre, B. A., C. Alvarez, and O. K. Ribeiro. 1991. Phytophthora root rot of kiwifruit in Chile. 

Plant Dis. 75(9):949-952.

Latorre, B. A., M. E. Rioja, and W. F. Wilcox. 1997. Root and crown rot of apple. Revista 

Fruti^acute~cola. Revista Fruti^acute~cola 18(3):97-103.

NIS. 2008. Change in action status for armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on material for 

consumption (NIS action policy, March 25, 2008). United States Department of 

Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and 

Quarantine, National Identification Services (NIS).

PestID. 2014. Pest Identification Database (PestID). United States Department of Agriculture, 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine. 

https://mokcs14.aphis.usda.gov/aqas/login.jsp. (Archived at PERAL).

PPQ. 2012. Guidelines for Plant Pest Risk Assessment of Imported Fruit and Vegetable 

Commodities (First Edition). United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Raleigh, NC.

Prado, E. C. 1991. Artropodos y sus enemigos naturales asociados a plantas cultivadas en Chile 

(No. 169). Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias - INIA. 144 pp.

Roper, T. R. 2008. Cranberry Production in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Inc. 8 pp.

SAG. 2010. Registros de plagas. Subdepto. Vigilancia y Control Oficial Agrícola. División 

Protección Agrícola y Forestal. Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG). Chile.

Stang, E. J. 1997. The emerging cranberry industry in Chile. Acta Hort 446:159-163.

Vildosola, G. M. 2012. Importation of fresh fruit of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, from 

Chile into the continental United States of America. Servicio Agricola y Ganadero, Chile. 

23 pp.

Wilcox, W. F., and B. A. Latorre. 1995. Identity and distribution of Phytophthora spp. causing 

root rot of raspberrry in Chile. Phytopathology 85:150.
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6. Appendix: Pests with non-actionable regulatory status 

We found some evidence of the below listed organisms being associated with cranberry and 

being present in Chile; however, because these organisms have non-actionable regulatory status 

for the continental United States, we did not list them in Table 1 of this risk assessment.

Below we list these organisms along with the references supporting their potential association 

with cranberry fruit, their potential presence in Chile, their presence in the continental United 

States (if applicable), and their regulatory status for the continental United States. For organisms 

not present in the continental United States, we also provide justification for their non-actionable 

status.

Organism Evidence and/or other notes

ARTHROPODS

Acari: Tetranychidae

Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) Fitzpatrick, 2009; Koch and Waterhouse, 2000

Coleoptera: Curculionidae

Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus

(Goeze)

CABI, 2014; Prado, 1991

Otiorhynchus sulcatus

(Fabricius)

Antonelli et al., 1991; CABI, 2014

Hemiptera: Aphididae

Smynthurodes betae Westwood Blackman and Eastop, 2000; Koch and Waterhouse, 2000; 

PestID, 2014

Hemiptera: Coccidae

Coccus hesperidum (Linnaeus) Fitzpatrick, 2009; PestID, 2014; Prado, 1991

Parthenolecanium corni 

(Bouché) 

(=Lecanium corni Bouché)

Fitzpatrick, 2009; Koch and Waterhouse, 2000; PestID, 

2014

Hemiptera: Diaspididae Non-actionable status for Diaspididae on commodities for 

consumption (NIS, 2008).

Aulacaspis rosae (Bouché) Koch and Waterhouse, 2000

Lepidosaphes ulmi (Linnaeus) Ben-Dov et al., 2014; Fitzpatrick, 2009; Koch and 

Waterhouse, 2000

Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae

Orgyia antiqua (L.) Fitzpatrick, 2009; Koch and Waterhouse, 2000; PestID, 

2014; Prado, 1991

Lepidoptera: Noctuidae

Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) Fitzpatrick, 2009; Koch and Waterhouse, 2000; PestID, 

2014

Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. 

Smith)

Fitzpatrick, 2009; Koch and Waterhouse, 2000; PestID, 

2014

FUNGI

Alternaria alternata (Fx.) Keissl Andrade and Loyola, 1993; Farr and Rossman, 2013; 

Guerrero, 1989; Latorre, 1992; SAG, 2010
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Organism Evidence and/or other notes

Alternaria tenuissima (Nees) Fr. Acuña, 2008; Caruso and Ramsdell, 1995; Farr and 

Rossman, 2013

Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr.

(Sclerotinia fuckeliana (de 

Bary) Fuckel)

Andrade and Loyola, 1993; Guerrero, 1989; Latorre, 1992; 

SAG, 2010

Botryosphaeria dothidea

(Moug.) Petr.

(Fusicoccum aesculi)

Acuña, 2008; Caruso and Ramsdell, 1995; Farr and 

Rossman, 2013

Cladosporium herbarum (Pers.) 

Link

Andrade and Loyola, 1993; Farr and Rossman, 2013; 

Guerrero, 1989; SAG, 2010

Colletotrichum acutatum

Simmonds ex Simmonds

Farr and Rossman, 2013 

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides 

(Penz.) Penz. & Sacc

(Glomerella cingulata 

Stoneman)

CABI, 2013; Farr and Rossman, 2013; SAG, 2010

Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. Guerrero, 1989; SAG, 2010

Fusicoccum putrefaciens Shear Farr and Rossman, 2013; Guerrero, 1989; SAG, 2010

Penicilium expansum Lk. ex 

Thom

CABI, 2013; SAG, 2010

Pestalotia guepini Desm (P.

Vaccinii Desm)

Farr and Rossman, 2013; Guerrero, 2001; SAG, 2010

Phomopsis vaccinii Shear

(Diaporthe vaccinii Shear)

CABI, 2013; Guerrero, 1989, 1999, 2001; SAG, 2010

Phytophthora cinnamomi Ronds Acuña, 2008; Caruso and Ramsdell, 1995; Farr and 

Rossman, 2013

Phytophthora cryptogea Pethybr. 

& Laff

CABI, 2013; Latorre et al., 1991; Latorre et al., 1997; 

Wilcox and Latorre, 1995

Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn SAG, 2010

Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.) 

Lind.

Andrade and Loyola, 1993; Farr and Rossman, 2013; 

Guerrero, 1989

NEMATODES

Helicotylenchus dihystera (Cobb) 

Sher

CABI, 2013; SAG, 2010

Paratrichodorus minor (Colbran) 

Siddiqi

CABI, 2013; Caruso and Ramsdell, 1995; SAG, 2010

Pratylenchus crenatus Sher & 

Allen

Caruso and Ramsdell, 1995

Pratylenchus penetrans (Cobb) CABI, 2013; SAG, 2010