Electronic irradiation treatment assures plant pest control and fruit quality
For Plant Pest Disinfestation
Hawaii is the only state under federal fruit fly quarantine (Quarantine 318.13). This prohibition has denied access of island-grown fresh fruits to the U.S. mainland markets for over 50 years.
Four species of fruit fly have been introduced to Hawaii: Melon fly (1895), Mediterranean fly (1907), Oriental fly (1944), and Malaysian fly, (1983).
Irradiation for fruit fly has been approved by the FDA since 1986 as a quarantine treatment for papaya grown in Hawaii. In 1995, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture began trial shipments of fruit for treatment at mainland irradiators. The treatment, at a dose of 250 – 400 Gray, proved successful for fruit fly DNA sterilization.
Hawaiian fruit, visibly labeled as “treated by irradiation”, with the accompanying radura symbol, has been sold in throughout the United States.
Papaya, rambutan, star fruit, lychee, and atemoya have been treated for retail distribution. Irradiated Hawaiian fruit has been featured at conventions of the Produce Marketing Association and Grocery Manufacturers of America.
In his April, 1998 speech to the Food Marketing Institute, American Farm Bureau Federation and Grocery Manufacturers of America, Dr. Lyle Wong, Hawaii Plant Industry Administrator, declared: “Consumer acceptance of Hawaiian fruit has been excellent. Consumers knew what they were buying.”
For Superior Fruit Quality
Electronic irradiation provides the best possible post-harvest treatment to assure fruit quality and freshness. This process offers a superior phytosanitary treatment to the hot and cold commodity treatments of our competitors.
Papaya treated by vapor heat or forced hot air for export must be picked before the fruit is suitably ripe. Papaya is subjected to temperatures of 117° for up to four hours. This results in premature wrinkling due to water loss.
“Hot treatments are approved for insect disinfestations, but have demonstrated some commercial shortcomings. Vapor heat requires growers to harvest greener papayas, which more readily tolerate heat treatment than fruit at riper stages. Forced dry air has been shown to blacken lychee, while extended cold treatment of star fruit can render the fruit wilted and unmarketable.” Dr Lyle Wong, Science & Public Policy Institute April, 1998
Consumers prefer fresh fruit. We are committed to fruit picked tree-ripened for sweetness and quality. Research shows repeat customer sales with Brix over 12.
For Environmental Safety
Irradiation research performed by Dr. James Moy and Dr. Robert Paull at the University of Hawaii shows equal or superior retention of vitamins at allowable doses.
For many decades, chemical fumigants have been used to allow fruits, vegetables and grains to be transported across state lines and imported from foreign countries. But that era is coming to an end.
In 1984, ethylene dibromide was cancelled for further use. Now, with adoption of the international Montreal Protocol, methyl bromide, the primary fumigant used worldwide, will be phased our effective January, 2001.
These fumigants have been determined to present environmental hazards, including damage to the earth’s ozone layer.
In 1997, USDA researcher Donald Thayer stated: “A safe, effective alternative to methyl bromide, irradiation has no harmful side effects.”
That is why the list of endorsers for irradiation includes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Service, American Medical Association, World Health Organization, United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization, the Institute of Food Technologists, and the international Codex Alimentarius Commission.