The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced this week that a local crop quarantine implemented across Santa Clara County last year due to the Oriental fruit fly has been lifted following the successful eradication of the invasive species.
The end of the quarantine comes nearly nine months after the initial discovery of the flies across parts of Santa Clara County. The announcement was made Wednesday in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner.
The quarantine in Contra Costa County, which was announced last August after the discovery of seven male Oriental fruit flies, remains in place, state officials said.
During the quarantine, more than 300 varieties of crops that could become hosts for the invasive flies were not allowed to be taken from the properties they were grown on, CDFA officials said. Commercial crops were held to stringent processing and treatment standards. Affected crops included citrus fruits, nuts, berries and vegetables, according to a news release.
The quarantine included parts of San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Milpitas, Mountain View, Saratoga, Campbell and Los Altos, officials said. The boundaries of the quarantine originally covered 112 square miles of the county.
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“As with so many invasive species, when we can detect infestations early and respond promptly, we stand the best chance of protecting our backyard fruits and vegetables and ultimately safeguarding California’s agricultural heritage,” Victoria Hornbaker, director of CDFA’s Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division, said in the news release.
A similar quarantine was declared in 2021 after the discovery of Oriental fruit flies in Santa Clara County, with most restrictions focused on southern San Jose.
There are a total of six fruit fly quarantines currently in place across California, according to the CDFA. Local officials encourage travelers to avoid bringing home produce from other countries and urge residents to remain aware of signs of invasive pests.