Economic Effects of Mitigating Apple Maggot Spread

"Apple maggot is an economically important apple pest that is native to the East Coast of North America, including Canada and the United States. Introduced to the West Coast of the United States in 1979, the pest is spreading rapidly in the region, threatening the major apple production area of Washington State, as well as British Columbia. A dynamic simulation model for perennial fruit production is developed to study the potential economic impact of a pest species, such as apple maggot. The model is designed to provide essential information, including the intertemporal distribution of welfare, to aid the design of effective and efficient policy response to pest outbreaks. This model is used to simulate the economic impact of apple maggot spread in Washington State on apple price, trade flows, and welfare changes." Copyright 2007 Canadian Agricultural Economics Society.