Shippers: There is a new requirement for fresh BC cherries entering US markets. The European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) was found in Ontario in 2016. This is the first documented occurrence of this pest in North America. This means that the US will be placing restrictions on the entry of Ontario cherries into the US for 2017.
BC producers will not be affected, except for the following: APHIS requires that all BC-origin cherries entering the U.S. have this exact phrase on the bill of lading: “THE SHIPPER CERTIFIES PRODUCT WAS PRODUCED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA AND/OR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, USA.” They are using this blanket statement to cover cherries from the US Pacific Northwest as well, and they require that we use the wording supplied, for all fresh cherry exports to anywhere in the US.