Mar 18, 2011

Grape commission gets grant to fight invasive pests

The California Table Grape Commission has been awarded a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) grant for a three-year project in the amount of $363,500 for research on invasive pests that pose threats to the table grape industry. According to a press release, the grant will be used to develop postharvest treatments that could help keep markets open in the event an invasive pest jeopardizes California table grape shipments. The initial pests being targested for research are Spotted Wing Drosophila, European Grapevine Moth, and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug.

“Invasive species have the potential to completely disrupt the marketing of affected products,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “An invasive pest find can affect domestic shipments as quickly as it disrupts exports,” Nave said. “Table grapes are a $1.3 billion FOB industry in California with shipments to over 60 countries worldwide. In a 100 million box industry, it is vital to keep all markets open.”

The California Table Grape Commission was created by the California legislature in 1967 to increase worldwide demand for fresh California grapes through a variety of research and promotional programs.