Of the 171,488 cull or off-grade apples inspected, only 10 were infested with codling moth larvae. Of the 501,537 apples packed for export, none were infested with codling moths. Further, information collected by the Department of Agriculture over a subsequent two and one-half year period showed that only 10 of 66,345,170 apples inspected were found to be infested with codling moth larvae. The data from these studies demonstrate that the systems approach is a viable, cost effective alternative to methyl bromide for controlling codling moths in apples and cherries for export to Japan and Korea. The systems approach techniques of IPM practices, post-harvest inspection, and packing techniques have been used for many years in the domestic production of apples and cherries.
Regulatory requirements are the only impetus for methyl bromide treatment in apples and cherries.
Because there will be no increased cost of production resulting from the elimination of methyl bromide use if the systems approach receives regulatory approval, it is believed that the systems approach is an economically viable alternative to methyl bromide fumigation for U.S. apple and cherry shippers. Methyl bromide consumption estimates. D.C. Jang and Moffitt. Jang, Eric B. and Harold R. Moffitt. Systems Approaches to Achieving Quarantine Security.