MEXICAN FRUIT FLY QUARANTINE SET FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Quarantine area is 78-square miles

SACRAMENTO, November 16, 2007 –  The California Department of Food and Agriculture has established a 78-square mile quarantine zone in San Diego County, in the Escondido area, following the detection of a Mexican fruit fly infestation.

To date, 5 Mexflies have been detected at two locations in the area. 

The quarantine boundary is as follows: on the north, Woods Valley Rd, and the western boundary line of Daley Ranch; on the south, Highland Valley Rd.; on the west, E. Mission Rd. and Highway 78; on the east, Rockwood Canyon Creek. 

The Mexican fruit fly can infest over 40 types of fruits and vegetables, causing severe impacts on California agricultural exports and backyard gardens.

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 Mexfly 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.

-30-