The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is actively combating the invasive Oriental fruit fly in the Redlands-Yucaipa area of San Bernardino County in California. The region has been under quarantine following several fruit fly detections this month, part of a broader strategy to contain the pest, according to the San Bernardino County news release.
The Oriental fruit fly is a serious threat to California's agricultural industry, endangering over 230 types of fruit, vegetables, and plants. Pome and stone fruits, citrus, dates, avocados, tomatoes, and peppers constitute part of the crops at risk. The female fruit flies lay eggs in the fruit, leading to hatching maggots that cause irreversible damage.
Residents within the quarantine zone are encouraged to not move homegrown produce off their properties. Such items can be consumed or processed where they are harvested, or if disposed of, must be double-bagged and discarded into standard trash bins, not green waste bins. The CDFA and the San Bernardino County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures are utilizing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles as part of the broader containment strategy.
Public understanding and community involvement are key components in confronting this problem. The CDFA has provided a Pest Hotline for sharing information and fielding queries from the public.
