Particle film proving its worth

HEADNOTE

PEAK MANAGEMENT

HEADNOTE

Surround protects a variety of fruit.

IN FEBRUARY 1999, we told you that a new product called

Surround, made from the mineral kaolin, was showing great promise for several uses in fruits. We've found that Surround products (Engelhard Corp.) have made an impressive showing over the past two seasons, and growers and researchers are compiling data on how they are working against pests from Washington to New York State.

Power In Pears

A test of Surround's efficacy against pear psylla came in July 1999 in the Wenatchee River Valley, where growers faced pesticide resistance. Prebloom applications performed well, so growers tried rescue sprays of Surround when traditional insecticides failed. The applications worked very well.

"Pear growers in the Valley are now using it as a standard, early season control for psylla," says Gary Puterka, USDA-ARS. The product suppressed rust mites, leafhoppers, leafrollers, and first-generation codling moths at the same time.