In several European countries, consumers and retailers are demanding a large reduction or elimination of pesticide residues on fruits. Producers need information and advice on how to meet these demands. In a strategy trial with Golden Delicious and the scab resistant varieties Topaz, Otava and Ariane, common crop protection strategies (integrated and organic apple production) were compared to a low-residue strategy (reduced use of synthetic fungicides). Pest and weed control was identical to the integrated strategy. In all strategies, alternative measures applied were insect exclusion netting, mating disruption against codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and mulching of leaves to reduce scab (Venturia inaequalis) inoculum. Insecticides were used only if damage thresholds were exceeded. Further trials with exclusion netting were carried out on apple and also on sweet cherry. The first year of the apple strategy trial has shown that a reduced fungicide use in summer results in an unacceptable increase of fruit scab incidence on Golden Delicious and bull’s eye rot (Gloeosporium album and G. malicorticis) incidence on Golden Delicious and Topaz. For the next four years, synthetic fungicides were used only until end of bloom. After bloom, control of diseases was done with potassium bicarbonate and sulphur. Using this strategy, no pesticide residues could be detected and control of scab and powdery mildew was comparable to the integrated strategy and superior to the organic strategy. At storage, Ariane appeared to be the most robust variety in all strategies. Losses due to bull’s eye rot remained a weakness of the organic and the low-residue strategy for Golden Delicious and Topaz. However, hot water treatments after harvest reduced the incidence of this disease. The key pest codling moth was successfully controlled by the combination of exclusion netting and mating disruption. No other pest caused relevant losses during the five years. Further trials with netting on apple have shown that a hail net improves the efficacy of mating disruption of the codling moth. The effect is even stronger with additional vertical nets at the edges of the orchard. In these trials, no effect of netting could be observed for the smaller fruit tortrix (Grapholita lobarzewskii) though. In a cherry trial with exclusion netting from change of colour to harvest a 98% reduction of cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) infestation has been observed. Our field trials with organic fungicides after bloom, hot water treatment after harvest, exclusion netting and mating disruption showed that a combination of these alternative measures can be used to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and the detectable residues in fruits.
