North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Robert H. <lostman_amiga@yahoo.com>" <lostman_amiga@yahoo.com>]

--- In rarefruit@yahoogroups.com, The Thaumaturgist <asitkghosh@y...> 
wrote:
Although the effectiveness of using Radio Waves to kill
destructive insects in agricultural products has been known for
70 years, the technique has never been applied on a commercial
scale. For several decades, Methyl Bromide has been a mainstay
treatment to kill a wide array of quarantined pests. 

A recent cooperative effort by four Agricultural Research
Service (U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture) research laboratories and
two universities aims to overcome the technical barriers to use
of Radio Wave heating to control pests on a commercial scale in
places such as orchards, packinghouses and food plants.

Electromagnetic waves of Radio Frequency can make molecules
vibrate and heat up, in the same way that Microwaves heat food.
The trick is to kill pest insects without killing the taste or
texture of the food they infest.

Since 2000, scientists had been working on a four-year study to
see if Radio Waves would be an economical, environmentally
friendly alternative to the use of Methyl Bromide and other
chemicals to effectively rid fruits and nuts of live insects. 

At the Kika De La Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center
in Weslaco, Texas, an entomologist is investigating the use of
Radio Frequency treatment of citrus against the Mexican Fruit
Fly. A device is being developed to simulate what's needed to
commercially heat-treat citrus fruit, such as Oanges and
Tangerines, with Radio Waves. 
        
An entomologist at Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory in
Wapato, Washington, plans to "bathe" tubs full of Apples and
Cherries with Radio Waves to determine exposure times that will
kill Codling Moth larvae without affecting the fruit's quality. 

Meanwhile, at the ARS San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences
Center in Parlier, California, an entomologist is testing the
use of this technology to rid Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Figs
and Raisins of the wiggly larvae of the Navel Orangeworm,
Indianmeal Moth and Codling Moth. 

For more, go to

 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb03/radio0203.htm
===========================================================

Asit K. Ghosh

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
http://shopping.yahoo.com
--- End forwarded message ---