When cherry season looms, WSDA and industry go into prep mode

Kathy Davis 
Communications

Earliest cherries in Mattawa area, May 2016

It’s cherry time! What makes consumers treasure cherries – pop-in-your-mouth size and short-lived season – also makes processing, inspecting and shipping them a fast and furious venture. 

That’s why WSDA’s Fruit and Vegetable (F&V) Inspection Program and the fruit industry are serious about gearing up for each cherry season. For instance, staff in the East Wenatchee F&V office presented two refresher sessions on May 12 – one for industry representatives and another for permanent and returning seasonal inspectors. 

“It’s like a year’s worth of work in three months,” noted Kyle Thomas, who’s starting his fifth cherry season as an inspector. 

“It’s all about timing,” added Jebb Wheeler, F&V export co-supervisor. “When things don’t go well, tempers can get short.” 

Cherries around the world

Why are cherries so different? They’re small, fragile and highly perishable. And the brief harvest season compresses the timetable to get them from orchard to store shelf or shipped around the globe. 

In 2015, Washington state produced more than 19 million 20-pound boxes of cherries and exported about 30 percent. While China is the top recipient of this fruit, the state shipped to 38 countries. Each country has specific standards, covering permits, pest-free certifications, and even how containers are marked. Wenatchee staff presented information for nine countries from Australia to Taiwan, and the European Union. 

Melissa Reed has specialized in shipping for 14 years and currently works at McDougall & Sons, a packing facility in Wenatchee. How does she keep track of all the various countries’ requirements? “A lot of note-taking,” she laughed, waving her notebook. 

Melissa said she appreciated the WSDA workshop and the communication with F&V staff. 

“Everyone here is awesome,” she said, “and we get answers to our questions really quick.”

Eastern Washington cherries for sale at the
Olympia Farmer's Market 

 

Crushing for larvae

Pests are a big concern and can affect the quality of the cherry product and the ability to export. Last year, 398 samples were found to contain a total of 644 larvae, Jeff Farmer, Wenatchee F&V supervisor, said. The most common culprit was Drosophila, a genus of small flies often called “fruit flies” -- they accounted for more than 90 percent of the finds.

Crushing is one of the procedures used to identify pests. The process is to take a representative sample of cherries and run them through a machine that crushes the fruit down to the pit, Jebb said. The pulp is then soaked in a sugar solution which causes larvae to float to the top. 

Distinguishing between different insect types requires looking at the critters under a microscope. Having an internet-connected microscope to share views with the agency’s entomologist in Yakima has been a big help, Jebb said. 

“Most of the industry wants the option of shipping through California, which requires larger and more thorough crushing samples because they are concerned about these pests,” he said. 

Vigilance on pest infestation is one of the many areas where state inspectors and the industry work closely together to gear up for cherry season. And this year’s has begun – early. The Wenatchee office reported beginning inspections on May 19.

Pest-free logs to China, working safely are top priorities for WSDA inspectors

Scott Brooks
Plant Services Program

WSDA staff conducting inspections at Washington’s busy log export facilities have two goals in mind during their work shift. One is working safely in an often hectic, noisy port environment and the other is to provide our customers with good service.

Environmental specialists with the Plant Services Program recently met in Tacoma to discuss both situations. 

Good customer service means ensuring exported logs are free of prohibited pests for China and other trading partners. Washington supplies more logs to China than any other state. Last year, Plant Services staff certified nearly 245 million board feet of logs to China. A typical log vessel holds about 6 million board feet of logs. The logs are used for construction in China, after being milled into lumber, forms and scaffolding.

Hitchhiking pests
Before the logs leave the port, WSDA inspectors look closely for hitchhiking wood-boring pests, like beetles or Pinewood nematodes. Core samples of the log are collected and analyzed at a WSDA lab in Prosser to test for the nematode, a process required by China. If all goes well, WSDA issues the exporter a phytosanitary certificate for the shipment. Though evidence of bark beetles is not uncommon, Washington logs have always tested negative for the presence of Pinewood nematode.

At the Tacoma meeting, the group reviewed inspection protocols and safety concerns. There can be many things to watch out for at congested port log yards. Logs are stacked into high decks to save space and log moving equipment is constantly sorting, stacking and loading logs throughout the yard. In this environment, it’s important for our inspectors to be seen and stay safe. 

Safety precautions
An orange reflective vest helps, but WSDA also requires that our personnel be escorted during inspections and that log moving equipment cease operations within 100 feet o

f the inspector when they are on site. Inspectors wear hard hats, steel toed boots and carry a cell phone in case they get into trouble.

Besides Tacoma, Plant Services’ staff works at six other ports: Longview, Olympia, Port Angeles, Seattle, Everett and the Port of Grays Harbor. They also are called out to private log yards.

The variety of commodities inspected by Plant Services personnel is extensive and involves logs, lumber, nursery stock, cut greens, grains, hay varieties and many minor specialty crops. Our team is dedicated to work with Washington exporters to assure consistency in applying federal export rules and policy. Working safely and focusing inspections on pests of concern are two major ways WSDA helps keep foreign trade running smoothly.

Training and resources help food processors prevent Listeria contamination

Susie Bautista
Food Safety and Consumer Services Division

Image: CDC PHL#13102, Photographer: James Gathany

Some germs are deadly and can be spread by food, which is why WSDA routinely tests food produced in Washington to check for potential contamination from these germs. 

The germ that prompts the most food recalls for Washington State food processors is Listeria monocytogenes, commonly referred to as Listeria. This germ is one of the leading causes of death from foodborne illness. Older adults, pregnant women, newborns and people with conditions that affect the immune system -- such as those with cancer or AIDS -- are at highest risk for developing illness from Listeria. 

Listeria is widely distributed in the environment and has been found in soil, vegetation, silage, sewage, water, and feces of healthy animals and humans. It’s hardy -- it can grow at refrigeration temperatures and tolerates salt. 

Food processors are particularly concerned with its ability to become established in processing facilities or equipment. Developing control systems can help processors prevent conditions that would allow Listeria to survive in their facilities and possibly contaminate their products.

Here are two important steps food processing companies can take to control Listeria in their facilities:

• Read guidance on control of Listeria available from the FDA: Draft guidance for the control of Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated or frozen ready to eat foods.  
• Attend the Listeria Control workshop in the Pacific Northwest this May: Northwest Food Processors Association website. 

Controlling Listeria is crucial in reducing incidents of foodborne illness and maintaining public confidence in the food supply. 

The Federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) aims to ensure that food processors take the necessary control steps. Some companies will need to comply with FSMA beginning in September 2016. Food processing companies can prepare for FSMA by attending an upcoming preventive control course in Washington State. These courses are for small to mid-size companies and are in high demand. So register soon at http://foodprocessing.wsu.edu/fsmapc/ for remaining open slots

Dates and Washington locations for FSMA preventive controls for human foods courses:

• May 4-6 Woodinville
• May 24-26 Vancouver
• June 14-16 Prosser

Food safety resources as well as updates on courses and workshops in Washington can be found on the Washington State Food Protection Task Force website. 

By the way, when WSDA determines food is contaminated with germs that can cause human illness, we notify the processor. We coordinate these notifications with our partner food safety agencies. When they learn a product they produced may be contaminated, food processors generally choose to voluntarily recall the product. 

Information on the disease caused by Listeria can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Gypsy moth treatments and the GMO myth

Karla Salp
Pest Program outreach coordinator 

Recent online articles are claiming that our gypsy moth program is using a genetically modified bacteria (GMO bacteria) in our gypsy moth treatments.

For the record: there are no GMO’s in the product we are using for gypsy moth treatments.

It is also not a Monsanto product. The product, Foray 48B, is made by Valent Biosciences and is approved by the USDA’s National Organics Program (NOP) for use in organic agriculture up to and including the day of harvest. The NOP requires natural sources for all ingredients so the product cannot include GMO ingredients.
If you eat organic produce, you have likely consumed Btk, the active ingredient in Foray 48B.

Btk is a naturally occurring soil bacteria that is toxic only to caterpillars. It is not toxic to humans, pets, birds, fish, or bees. It has been used safely for decades. It is available to purchase in most garden centers and many organic gardeners use it in their gardens as well.

It is because of its safety for non-target organisms that we selected this product. We have included multiple links on our website about Btk and human health. You can learn more here on our Btk and human health webpage.

We are extremely confident in the safety of this product. In fact, our own staff stand outside beneath the path of the aircraft in the treatment areas as observers. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has also reviewed the ingredients of Foray 48B and have said it does not pose a public health risk.

Some people may still decide to minimize their exposure to the treatments. For those who wish to do so, the Department of Health suggests that staying inside for 30 minutes after treatment is sufficient to limit your exposure.

Treatment areas

But first see if you are even in or near a treatment area. We have maps available online, including a searchable map that will tell you if you are in, near, or outside the treatment areas. If you are in or near the treatment areas, you can sign up to be notified before treatments occur vie e-mail, robocall or text messages.

It is understandable that people would have questions or concerns when a pesticide is being applied in their neighborhoods. That shouldn’t include worrying about misinformation being spread online.

If you have questions or want more information, visit www.agr.wa.gov/gypsymoth or call our hotline at 1-800-443-6684.

Pesticide applicators can take steps to reduce drift

Joel Kangiser 
Pesticide Management Division

Farm workers learn about testing pesticide sprayers

As crop planting and growing season gets into full swing, it is peak time for applying pesticides across Washington agriculture country. Pesticide applicators are responsible for assuring that pesticides do not drift off-target. 

Last year, WSDA’s Pesticide Management Division investigated 123 incidents involving potential violations of the state’s pesticide laws and 47 of those involved allegations of pesticides drifting onto neighboring property. So far this year, WSDA has received 11 complaints of pesticide drift and most involve potential human exposure. All are currently being investigated. 

To ensure that pesticides do not drift beyond the intended treatment area, WSDA offers the following suggestions to reduce the risk.

• Read the label on the pesticides being applied and abide by all precautions and restrictions on safe handling, necessary protective equipment, buffers, the effect on crops and more.  
• Pay special attention near sensitive areas such as highways, homes, schools and other occupied dwellings or where workers are present. 
• Properly calibrate equipment, using the proper nozzles and pressure to keep the spray on-target. 
• Scout the areas bordering the place that’s being treated.
• Evaluate conditions such as wind speed, wind direction, and temperature.
• Stop applying immediately if conditions change in ways that increase the risk of drift to unsafe levels or if anyone approaches the area without proper protection.  

WSDA licenses about 25,000 pesticide applicators, dealers, consultants and inspectors. Licensees are trained to apply pesticides safely. If problems do occur, WSDA will investigate complaints that allege the state’s pesticide laws have been violated -- including cases of drift, worker exposure, or environmental harm. 

To file a complaint, email compliance@agr.wa.gov or call toll free to 1-877-301-4555. When you call, have as much information as possible ready to share with the investigator. 

The state Department of Health investigates potential cases of pesticide illnesses. Visit their website at www.doh.wa.gov for more information.