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California eradicates invasive fruit fly species, protecting agriculture

In California, officials have announced the successful eradication of several invasive fruit fly species, as reported by Culver City Crossroads. The state faced an unprecedented surge in fruit fly populations last year, prompting a coordinated response involving residents, the agricultural sector, and county agricultural commissioners. "Last year, California experienced an unusually high population of invasive fruit flies, and the response required coordination from residents, agricultural industry members, and agricultural commissioners in both counties," stated Victoria Hornbaker, director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division.

A quarantine was implemented, restricting the movement of over 300 crop varieties susceptible to the Mediterranean and Queensland fruit flies and enforcing stringent processing standards for commercial crops. This quarantine, which lasted nine months, was a critical component of the strategy to eliminate the pests. "Through this coordination, we're incredibly proud to have successfully achieved the eradication of several species of invasive fruit flies in Southern California — including Mediterranean, Queensland, and Tau — but the threat is never completely gone," Hornbaker added.

The eradication effort was vital for protecting California's agricultural economy from these pests, which threaten over 400 fruit and vegetable species, including key crops like oranges, grapes, and tomatoes. "Invasive fruit flies are among the most destructive and costly pests globally, threatening more than 400 species of fruits and vegetables, including many of California's most valuable crops such as oranges, grapes, mangoes, blueberries, and tomatoes," explained USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. The successful eradication of these fruit flies is seen as a significant achievement for the state's agricultural sector.

Source: TCD

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