Growers’ Awareness and Adoption of Sustainable Pest Management Practices for Spotted-Wing Drosophila in U.S. Berry and Cherry Production

A multi-institutional, transdisciplinary collaboration among land-grant university agricultural scientists, Extension specialists, and berry and cherry producers in the United States led to the development of sustainable pest management practices (SPMPs) to address the invasive pest spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii. This study examined fruit growers’ awareness and adoption of these practices for managing SWD. Guided by the diffusion of innovation theory and the theory of planned behavior, we assessed factors influencing growers’ decisions to adopt SPMPs. A national survey of fruit growers yielded 133 usable responses, which were used to identify key predictors of adoption and evaluate the perceived effectiveness of SPMPs. Results showed that 84.5% of respondents were aware of SPMPs, though awareness and adoption varied by gender, farm size, education level, and region. Male growers, operators of larger farms and those with higher educational attainment were more likely to adopt SPMPs, with regional differences shaped by climatic conditions and institutional support. Additionally, 74% of respondents reported implementing at least one SPMP, while adoption was largely limited to monitoring-based practices. Drivers of adoption included concerns about fruit quality, urgency of pest pressure, and perceived effectiveness of SPMPs. Seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) analyses indicated that wet (drowning) and dry traps significantly reduce SWD pressure and infestation while repellents and parasitoids reduced market loss. Growers’ attitudes, social influences, and perceived behavioral control significantly influenced adoption intentions. Findings underscore the need for targeted education, economic incentives, and region-specific Extension strategies to promote broader and more integrated adoption of SPMPs for SWD control in the U.S.