USDA photo
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced Sept. 1 it was increasing the area quarantined for citrus black spot (CBS) in Florida. It expanded the quarantined area by adding eight sections in Charlotte County, 15 sections in Collier County, one section in Glades County, six sections in Hendry County and two sections in Polk County.
APHIS took this action because of CBS detections in samples collected during the 2025–26 growing season. The agency acted in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry.
CBS is a disease caused by the fungus Phyllosticta citricarpa. It is spread through leaf litter, from fruit to fruit and leaves through rain splash, and through human-assisted movement. When trees are severely infected, fruit may drop prematurely, resulting in significant yield loss.
CBS was first identified in Collier and Hendry counties in 2010. In June 2025, quarantines were established for the first time in DeSoto and Highlands counties. The disease is currently confined to portions of eight counties in Southwest Florida.
APHIS continues to apply safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from the quarantined areas. Fresh citrus fruit moved interstate from quarantined areas must be processed using APHIS-approved methods and packed in commercial citrus packinghouses operating under an APHIS compliance agreement.
Fresh, mature rutaceous leaves for consumption moved interstate from quarantined areas must meet the conditions in Federal Order DA-2022-07 and operate under an APHIS compliance agreement. APHIS prohibits the movement of any other citrus plant parts outside the quarantined area.
The APHIS Citrus Black Spot webpage has information on this disease, federal orders, approved packinghouse procedures and descriptions of current quarantined areas.
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