every contaminant has been removed. The more important step is to inspect your fruit carefully and discard berries that are damaged, overripe, leaking, or visibly infested.
For home gardeners, Iowa State University Extension recommends promptly harvesting ripe fruit and removing overripe, damaged, or rotting berries to reduce the pest’s ability to spread.
Are You Supposed to Throw the Berries Away?
If you find visible larvae or significant infestation, the safest and simplest choice is to discard the affected berries rather than trying to rescue them.
For berries that look sound, wash them thoroughly under clean running water before eating. Washing won’t necessarily eliminate larvae that are already inside fruit, so inspecting the berries is still important.
How Can You Reduce the Problem?
If you’re growing berries at home, several basic practices can help:
Harvest frequently. Don’t allow ripe berries to remain on the plant longer than necessary.
Remove damaged fruit.
