Program Summary

See Canadian directive D-02-04 for details

Registration

Growers who wish to participate in the program must submit an application form to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) no later than May 1st by emailing it to MDARD-NurseryCE@michigan.gov. Growers are required to identify the location of each production area that will be used as a source of blueberries in the program. Approved Growers – Applications submitted for registration will be reviewed by MDARD and the USDA for approval. All blueberries shipped under the program must originate from an approved grower.

Shipping Certificates

Approved growers will be issued unique sticker certificates. The sticker certificate must be attached to any shipping documents.

Training

Growers are required to participate in annual training to familiarize themselves with blueberry maggot biology, identification, field monitoring, cultural and chemical control measures, sample testing, and field grading. This training may be provided by MSU or MDARD.

Certification Options

• Option 1 – IPM Approach: Requires placement and monitoring of yellow sticky traps with ammonium acetate lures in source fields. Traps must be placed 2 weeks before the earliest expected emergence. The minimum trap density is 4 traps per field under 5 acres. Fields over 5 acres require additional traps – consult with MDARD. The traps must be inspected once per week, increasing to twice weekly starting just before first fruit coloring, until the first blueberry maggot fly is caught, triggering fruit protection activities. Plants must be sprayed within 5 days of finding the first fly on a trap. A second spray is required 5-12 days later depending on the insecticide. A subsequent spray must be applied within 5 days if another blueberry maggot fly is trapped and must continue at intervals specified on the label.
• Option 2 – Calendar-based Pest Control: Fruit not monitored using traps may also qualify for export into Canada provided that the first pesticide application was made within 5 days of the detection of blueberry maggot as determined by the MDARD or its designee (MSU) and subsequent sprays were continued at 5–12-day intervals, depending on the insecticide used. Grading - Harvested fruits must be graded mechanically or by hand to remove soft, shriveled, and decayed berries. Fruit must meet US No. 1 or Canada No. 1 grade requirements; however, a grade certificate is not required.

Fruit Sampling and Testing

A minimum of 1 one-liter sample must be tested using a brown sugar/salt flotation test or a boiling test to assure the absence of blueberry maggot. Each field must be sampled and tested once a week throughout the harvest period. If more than 1 maggot is found in the sample, the fresh fruit may not be shipped to Canada under the program. MDARD is required to monitor testing. Growers must contact MDARD at NeilsA@michigan.gov or 517-449-0786 to schedule the initial test monitoring.

Record Keeping

Growers must keep records relating to trapping, pesticide applications, and fruit sampling. These records must be provided to MDARD upon request prior to shipping.