The California Department of Food and Agriculture is preparing for a quarantine
and treatment program to eradicate an Oriental fruit fly (OFF) infestation in
the Anaheim area of Orange County. The quarantine will also affect an adjacent
portion of southern Los Angeles County.
“Our system to detect invasive species like the Oriental fruit fly is working
well and according to design,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “The key is to
respond quickly and take action before the pests can cause widespread
damage.”
Twelve Oriental fruit flies have been detected in the Anaheim area since
October 12. The treatment program will be carried out over approximately 10
square miles surrounding the sites where the insects were trapped. A map of the
treatment area is available at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/treatment/treatment_maps.html
Treatment of the Oriental fruit fly primarily relies upon a process known as
“male attractant” in which workers squirt a small patch of fly attractant mixed
with a very small dose of pesticide approximately 8-10 feet off the ground to
street trees and similar surfaces. Male flies are attracted to the mixture and
die after consuming it. On and near the properties where the flies were found,
crews will also remove and dispose of host fruits and vegetables from yards and
gardens and apply treatments to plants using the organic-approved substance
spinosad.
Agricultural officials have increased the number of insect traps in the
region to help determine the extent of the infestation. Once that work has been
completed, a quarantine boundary will be set and a map posted online.
With the infestation in Anaheim, California now has seven active OFF
eradication projects underway. The others include two in Los Angeles County
(the San Gabriel/Alhambra area and the Baldwin Park area); two in Orange County
(the Anaheim/Yorba Linda area and the Santa Ana/Westminster area); one in San
Joaquin County in the Stockton area, where a quarantine was declared on
September 21; and one in the Pleasanton area of Alameda County, where two OFF
adults were recently detected in traps.
To prevent the spread of fruit flies through homegrown fruits and vegetables,
residents of fruit fly quarantine areas are urged not to move any fruits or
vegetables from their property. Fruits and vegetables may be consumed or
processed (i.e. juiced, frozen, cooked, or ground in the garbage disposal) at
the property where they are picked.
To help prevent infestations, officials ask that residents do not bring or
mail fresh fruit, vegetables, plants or soil into California unless agricultural
inspectors have cleared the shipment beforehand, as fruit flies and other pests
can hide in a variety of produce. It is important to cooperate with any
quarantine restrictions and to allow authorized agricultural workers access to
your property to inspect fruit and Oriental fruit fly traps for signs of an
infestation.
The Oriental fruit fly is known to target over 230 different fruit, vegetable
and plant commodities. Damage occurs when the female lays eggs inside the
fruit. The eggs hatch into maggots that tunnel through the flesh of the fruit,
making it unfit for consumption.
While fruit flies and other pests threaten California’s crops, the vast
majority of them are detected in urban and suburban areas. The most common
pathway for these pests to enter the state is by “hitchhiking” in fruits and
vegetables brought back illegally by travelers as they return from infested
regions around the world. The Oriental fruit fly is widespread throughout much
of the mainland of Southern Asia and neighboring islands including Sri Lanka and
Taiwan. It is also found in Hawaii.
A great part of my job is the opportunity to meet Californians and talk to them about food and agriculture. We have quite a story to tell as the leading farming state in the country. Our best opportunities to spread the word are among people outside the direct Ag culture. This week, I met with two groups working in that sphere. The first, California Agriculture in the Classroom, held an outstanding event at the Cow Palace for San Francisco Farm Day. I got to meet with approximately 300 farmers and ranchers who volunteered to be part of classroom outreach to students in the San Francisco school district. They visited 10,000 students in about 25 schools with farm animals, fresh produce, tools and other items used on the farm tohelp them tell students about growing food. The basic goal is to teach children where their food and fiber originates. This is essential work directed at our most important constituency.
