The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has amended a federal order to prohibit cherries from the province of Quebec in Canada from entering the U.S.
APHIS said the measure is to prevent the introduction of the European cherry fruit fly after it was detection in the province and is an expansion of restrictions already in place for the province of Ontario.
The service said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of European cherry fruit fly in July 2022 in wild honeysuckle shrubs and an ornamental Prunus spp. tree in a park in Quebec. CFIA expanded its regulated European cherry fruit fly zone to the entire province in June 2023.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says European cherry fruit fly larvae can cause 100% losses from feeding on fruit pulp, and the invasive pest can be introduced to new areas via infected fresh cherries, soil from areas where the pest is established or host plants grown in established areas.
APHIS said the only U.S. detection of European cherry fruit fly is in western New York, where it is under control. The service said it would be likely the invasive pest could establish populations in plant hardiness zones 2-6 or 7 in the northern U.S.
Restricted fruits from Quebec and Ontario include black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus) and sweet cherry (P. avium). APHIS said it will also restrict the importing of wild Prunus spp. and honeysuckle fruit.
Imported cherries from all other provinces from Canada to the U.S. must have their origin verified by shipping documents or other proof of origin, according to APHIS.
