What started as a backyard dispute over pests ended with Phil and Elizabeth Rupprecht hauling out a chainsaw and cutting down 10 of their own citrus trees rather than let state crews touch them.
The Fallbrook couple say California agriculture inspectors told them they could either accept pesticide treatments, remove their backyard citrus, or risk being arrested. Some of the trees were nearly 30 years old and had been a staple for family gatherings, they said. Although the Rupprechts say their trees tested negative for the bacterial disease driving recent quarantines, they felt boxed in after inspectors returned with law-enforcement officers. The clash has become a fresh flashpoint in the ongoing battle between homeowners, nurseries and regulators over how aggressively the state should fight a disease that can wipe out citrus orchards.
Homeowners Say Inspectors Gave an Ultimatum
Phil and Elizabeth Rupprecht told NBC 7 San Diego that state agriculture employees showed up with a warrant, explained that an infected tree had been found nearby, and laid out three options: allow chemical spraying, cut down the trees themselves, or face arrest.
Phil recalled telling officers, “Put me in handcuffs and arrest me,” before ultimately deciding to cut down 10 fruit trees to avoid spraying near a nearby waterway. The couple said their own trees had been tested and found negative, even as inspectors pointed to a separate infected tree roughly 250 yards away as the trigger for the enforcement action. According to NBC 7 San Diego, state agriculture officials did not respond to requests for comment on the Rupprechts’ case.
Why Officials Remove Trees
State and county agriculture officials say they rely on removal and targeted treatments to contain Huanglongbing, also known as HLB or citrus greening, because infected trees are fatal to citrus and there is no cure.
According to the San Diego County Citrus Quarantine Program, when a tree tests positive the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) removes the tree, surveys and samples plants within about 250 meters, and establishes a mandatory five-mile quarantine around the site. County materials also note that CDFA posts Notices of Treatment at least 48 hours in advance and restricts movement of citrus plants, fruit and cuttings out of quarantine zones. Officials say those steps are intended to protect a regional citrus industry valued at more than $100 million.
Nearby Nursery Lawsuit Highlights the Stakes
Earlier this month, an Escondido nursery owner said his business was hit even harder. Mark Collins of Evergreen Wholesale told NBC 7 San Diego that state crews destroyed roughly 32,000 potted citrus plants at his operation and that he has filed a federal lawsuit seeking compensation.
Collins said the plants were intended for sale and that he followed state protocols, yet still watched them being hauled away, estimating his losses in the millions. That fight has growers and residents watching closely to see how far the state will go on enforcement and what kind of reimbursement, if any, might follow.
Legal Questions and What Residents Can Do
County guidance urges residents to cooperate with inspectors and to document every interaction. Homeowners are advised to call the CDFA pest hotline for information on testing, treatment, and available protections.
The San Diego County Citrus Quarantine Program notes that CDFA coordinates surveys, treatments, and removals under the state’s HLB action plan and that Notices of Treatment are posted in advance. Civil remedies, including lawsuits, are already unfolding in nearby cases, and homeowners with concerns are encouraged to consult an attorney before taking confrontational action on private property.
