MEDFLY QUARANTINE SET FOR SOLANO COUNTY

SACRAMENTO,  September 18, 2007 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture has established a 114-square mile quarantine zone in Solano County, in the Dixon area, following the detection of a Mediterranean fruit fly infestation.

To date, 12 wild Medflies and larvae have been detected in the area. This is the first Medfly infestation in the Central Valley since the early 80’s.

The quarantine boundary is as follows: on the north, Putah Creek; on the south, Binghamton Rd; on the west, Boyce Rd.; on the east, Bulkey Rd.
  
The Medfly can infest over 260 types of fruits and vegetables, causing severe impacts on California agricultural exports and backyard gardens. A permanent infestation would result in estimated annual losses of $1.3 billion to $1.8 billion.

Agricultural shipments from the quarantine zone will be limited by specific regulations designed to minimize movement of potentially infested commodities. In addition, people moving through the quarantine zone are urged not to remove fruits and vegetables from the area.

The quarantine requires that local residents not move home-grown fruits and vegetables from the property of origin. Residents may dispose of fruits and vegetables by double-bagging them and placing the bags in the garbage.   

An eradication program for the Medfly is already underway, consisting of increased releases of sterile male flies in the area and ground treatments within a 200-meter radius of the finds, which is approximately one-eighth of a mile. Additionally, fruit stripping is underway in a 100-meter radius of the larval detection site

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