Olive Pest Is Increasing Problem

A pest population explosion threatens to increase costs for Northern California olive growers. Olive fruit flies are showing up in much higher numbers and earlier in the season. Authorities say warmer-than-average springtime temperatures may be the reason. Pest damage can cause canneries to reject olives, so farm advisors suggest that farmers treat their orchards every two weeks. But that added cost cuts into olive growers´ already-thin profit margin.