CDFA Secretary Karen Ross addresses news media today at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
At a news conference today inside San Francisco International Airport (SFO), officials announced the expansion of the successful “Don’t Pack a Pest” traveler awareness campaign into California.
“Don’t Pack a Pest” helps protect against invasive species introduction in the U.S. and the Caribbean with a simple message: When You Travel, Declare Agricultural Items, Don’t Pack a Pest.
The program was launched at Miami International Airport several years ago. The ongoing outreach program is a cooperative effort between CDFA, the USDA, United States Customs and Border Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, several Caribbean countries, California’s county agricultural commissioners, and San Francisco International Airport.
“Invasive species have the potential to devastate California’s agricultural industry and its natural resources,” said California Secretary of Agricultural Karen Ross. “Keeping these invasive species outside of our borders is the most effective way to protect our state, and the Don’t Pack a Pest campaign aims to help us do just that.”
For more on the project, visit the dontpackapest.com site.