ABSTRACT
In 2022, global fruit production totalled 933 million tons of fresh fruit and 42 million tons of fresh vegetables, with Latin America being a key exporter, accounting for 25% of global exports. A major challenge for fruit production in the Western Hemisphere is the presence of fruit fly pests, many of which are of quarantine importance. Twenty-one species from the genera Anastrepha, Bactrocera, Ceratitis, and Rhagoletis pose economic and quarantine risks. To address this, countries in the region have implemented fruit fly management programmes, leading to the creation of low-prevalence and pest-free areas, along with pest risk mitigation strategies to support international trade. These efforts have been aided by international and regional organizations. However, the risk of introducing non-native fruit fly species persists due to increased global trade, tourism, and migration. Such introductions threaten local production and exports. Not all countries have the necessary national programmes with legal and financial support, which undermines control efforts. This chapter presents a tiered approach that prioritizes actions to prevent the introduction of new fruit fly species and manage endemic ones to protect production and facilitate trade.
