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Maine blueberries vs. fly: US senator files bill to help

By The Associated Press

Blueberry harvest in Maine HFS FILE - Workers harvest wild blueberries at the Ridgeberry Farm Friday, July 27, 2012, in Appleton, Maine. Maine's Republican senator is introducing legislation that calls on the federal government to step up research and prevention efforts about a pest that could jeopardize the state's most important fruit, the wild blueberry. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

By The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s Republican senator is introducing legislation that calls on the federal government to step up research and prevention efforts for a pest that could jeopardize the state’s wild blueberry crop.

Maine is the only state in the country with a significant harvest of wild blueberries, which are smaller cousins to the more ubiquitous cultivated blueberries.

Wild blueberries in Maine HFS FILE - Wild blueberries are ready for harvesting July 27, 2012, in Warren, Maine. Maine's Republican senator is introducing legislation that calls on the federal government to step up research and prevention efforts about a pest that could jeopardize the state's most important fruit, the wild blueberry. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

The berries are threatened by the spotted wing drosophila, a fruit fly from East Asia first detected in the U.S. in 2008.

Sen. Susan Collins said Monday that she has submitted a bill to establish a fund of $6.5 million per year for five years to advance research and reduce the fly’s population.

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