Managing insect pests in organic apple production systems remains a challenge in the Midwest. Particle film technology, which sprays a fine film of safe, microscopic particles onto leaves and fruits to form a protective barrier against insect pests, has enormous potential for organic fruit pest management.

The objective of the study, funded by the Organic Farming Research Foundation in 1999, was to evaluate and document the efficacy and potential of a kaolin-based particle film coating in suppressing plum curculio, codling moth, red-banded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, and certain bacterial and fungal pathogens in apples.