The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) declared a citrus quarantine expansion in San Diego County’s Valley Center on March 26. The expansion occurred after detection of HLB disease in two citrus trees in residential neighborhoods in the Valley Center area during regular inspections.
HLB is a major threat to San Diego County’s $144 million annual citrus crop and can impact residential citrus tree owners. More than 350 businesses may be affected by the quarantine expansion, including more than 100 growers with approximately 1,700 acres of commercial citrus and three commercial nurseries.
This new quarantine expansion adds to the existing HLB quarantines in Fallbrook, Oceanside, Rancho Bernardo and Valley Center. The expanded quarantine will encompass portions of the citrus-growing regions of Pala and Pauma Valley. Maps for HLB quarantine areas are available here.
The quarantine restricts people and businesses from moving citrus nursery stock, plant parts and fruit outside the quarantine boundaries and off their properties. The only exception is for agricultural businesses that must adhere to specific requirements for treatment, cleaning and packing commercial fruit prior to movement.
Samples from trees on the property where HLB was confirmed — as well as the surrounding area — are undergoing tests for the disease.
“Our goal is to prevent this disease from spreading,” said San Diego Agricultural Commissioner Ha Dang. “Partnering with state and federal regulatory partners, we are working closely with residents and agricultural operators and ask for everyone’s cooperation with the ongoing regulatory activities.”
CDFA will work with residents in the immediate area to arrange for treatment of citrus trees as a protective measure against the disease.
For questions regarding moving commercial citrus and HLB quarantine regulations, contact the San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures at 858-614-7770.
Visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org to learn more about HLB the Asian citrus psyllid that spreads the disease.
Source: County of San Diego
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