U.S. Customs Halts Invasive Pest from Reaching Wisconsin Cherry Orchards
On June 19th, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists made a critical interception at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, stopping a serious agricultural threat before it could reach U.S. soil. During a secondary inspection, specialists discovered a five-pound bag of fresh cherries infested with live European cherry fruit fly maggots.
The infested cherries were being transported by a traveler arriving from Romania, with plans to continue on to Fish Creek, Wisconsin—a key tart cherry production region in the United States. The interception was particularly significant given the potential threat to domestic cherry crops and the broader agricultural economy.
CBP officials noted the fruit was heavily infested with live maggots, indicating an advanced and active infestation. The European cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) is a highly destructive pest known to cause significant damage to stone fruit crops, especially cherries. If introduced, it could jeopardize entire harvests and trigger costly eradication efforts.
The timely action by CBP specialists likely prevented a potential outbreak in one of the country’s most important tart cherry regions. According to Dale Sandlin with Southeast AgNet, this interception underscores the essential role of border inspections in protecting U.S. agriculture from foreign pests and diseases.
The case serves as a reminder to international travelers about the risks and restrictions involved in transporting agricultural products across borders. Even small quantities of infested fruit can lead to widespread agricultural consequences. CBP continues to enforce strict biosecurity measures and collaborate with agricultural agencies to safeguard the nation’s crops and natural resources.