Spotted Wing Drosophila, a well-known pest that infests ripe, ready-to-eat fruit, poses a significant threat to farmers because it is very difficult to control with standard pesticides. A new approach to tackling this pest involves manipulating the behavior of these insects by disguising healthy fruit as if it were infected with an unappealing pathogen.
By studying the specific odors emitted by infected fruit, researchers have identified the chemicals that repel the flies when applied to healthy fruit and are developing a slow-release device to disperse these fruity odors in the field, ensuring that they do not come into direct contact with the fruit. This method provides a new tool to help farmers protect their crops without relying exclusively on insecticides.
Source: USDA
Image: USDA
20 Jan 2026
A joint study by Chinese institutes and Michigan State University reveals how yellow-black bagging improves the color of 'Lapins' sweet cherries. The rise in anthocyanins and sugars highlights new agronomic strategies to enhance fruit quality in cherry production.
23 Oct 2024
The global cherry exports have shown a trend of sustained growth in recent years, rising from $3.089 billion in 2019 to a peak of $4.514 billion in 2022, mainly due to the strong demand from Asian markets like China. In 2023, however, these exports saw a 13.5% decline.
03 Nov 2026
From packing houses in Yakima, Washington, to Asian markets, machine vision analyzes and sorts cherries, reduces waste, and enables refrigerated sea shipping. Here’s how the technology is changing quality standards, prices, and global demand around Chinese Lunar New Year.
03 Nov 2026
Iberian Cherry brings Spain and Portugal together to advance sustainable cherry production. The project combines biodiversity protection, regenerative farming and digital technologies, involving 50 pilot farms in the Jerte Valley and Portugal's Cova da Beira region.
