Agricultural officials in California have initiated a quarantine in part of Alameda County, including Fremont areas, due to an infiltration of Mediterranean Fruit Flies, commonly called Medflies. According to a news release from the City of Fremont, authorities detected a wild-mated female Medfly, which has triggered a response to prevent the spread of these prolific pests that threaten over 250 fruits and vegetables.
The quarantine stretches approximately 71 square miles and brings together the efforts of the USDA, the Alameda County Agricultural Commissioner, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). This collaboration aims to eradicate the Medfly presence, as disclosed in a CDFA press release, which outlines the borders of the quarantine and notes the sterile male Medfly release program as a cornerstone of the eradication efforts.
Under the quarantine measures, local residents and businesses dealing with susceptible fruits face new regulations. The strategy in play is not unfamiliar, as the CDFA has successfully eradicated Medfly infestations in California for over four decades. This specific operation will release 250,000 sterile male medflies per square mile each week to thwart the reproduction cycle of these pests.
Further, properties close to detection sites are treated with Spinosad, an organic pesticide, to mitigate the Medfly population. For those within the infected zone, the CDFA outlines clear guidelines for handling produce to prevent the spreading of the flies. Home gardeners should consume their produce on-site and not move it off their property. Residents may also dispose of infested fruits by double-bagging them and placing them in the regular trash bins, not in the green waste—the CDFA urges in the press release.
Travelers have been identified as a common vector for pests like the Medfly, with people inadvertently bringing infested fruits and vegetables from affected regions abroad into the state. CDFA stresses the importance of adhering to programs like Don’t Pack a Pest to prevent such scenarios. For additional information or if locals suspect their fruits are infested, they should contact the CDFA’s Pest Hotline or email their reports.
