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Research Project: Pre and Postharvest Treatment of Tropical and Other Commodities for Quarantine Security, Quality Maintenance, and Value Enhancement

Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research

Title: Use of irradiation as quarantine treatment for tropical fruit and vegetable crops

Author

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 26, 2011
Publication Date: October 31, 2011
Citation: Follett, P.A. 2011. Use of irradiation as quarantine treatment for tropical fruit and vegetable crops. HortScience. 46(9): S83

Interpretive Summary: Hawaii exports fresh fruits and vegetables to the U.S. mainland using irradiation to control quarantine insect pests. Hawaii has export approvals for 17 fruits and 7 vegetables using irradiation. Hawaii Pride LLC (Keaau, HI) is the first commercial irradiator designed to treat fresh commodities for phytosanitary purposes. It has exported sweet potatoes, papayas, dragon fruit, bananas, longan, rambutan, and mangos using postharvest irradiation for shipment to the U.S. mainland. Other commodities such as basil and curry leaf may be irradiated to prevent rejection due to hitchhiker pests. Advantages and drawbacks of irradiation will be discussed. Broad commodity tolerance and the availability of generic irradiation doses to treat almost any group of insects on any fresh commodity make irradiation an attractive treatment option. The talk will include a virtual tour of the Hawaii Pride LLC irradiation facility.

Technical Abstract: The export of many of Hawaii’s fresh fruits and vegetables to the U.S. mainland is regulated due to the presence of quarantine insect pests. Hawaii has export approvals for 17 fruits and 7 vegetables using irradiation to disinfest the commodities of any quarantine insects. Hawaii Pride LLC (Keaau, HI) is the first commercial irradiator designed to treat fresh commodities for phytosanitary purposes. During the past 10 years, sweet potatoes, papayas, dragon fruit, bananas, longan, rambutan, and mangos have received postharvest irradiation treatment before shipment to the U.S. mainland. Other commodities such as basil and curry leaf may be irradiated to prevent rejection due to hitchhiker pests. Advantages and drawbacks of irradiation will be discussed. Broad commodity tolerance and the availability of generic irradiation doses to treat almost any group of insects on any fresh commodity make irradiation an attractive treatment option. The talk will include a virtual tour of the Hawaii Pride LLC irradiation facility.

   

 
Project Team
Wall, Marisa
Jang, Eric
Follett, Peter
Hollingsworth, Robert
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
  Methyl Bromide Alternatives (308)
 
Related Projects
   UHH-COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FOR EVALUATING REGIONALLY BASED FEEDSTOCK AND CO-PRODUCTS FOR AQUACULTURE AND LIVESTOCK
   UHM-COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FOR EVALUATING REGIONALLY BASED FEEDSTOCK AND CO-PRODUCTS FOR AQUACULTURE AND LIVESTOCK
   PROCESSING QUALITY OF NONI JUICE (MORINDA CITRIFOLIA)
   DEVELOPMENT OF IRRADIATION TREATMENTS FOR HIGH IMPACT SPECIES
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Last Modified: 05/22/2013
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