In September 2023, the California Department of Food and Agriculture established a quarantine for the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) in portions of Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties. This is due to multiple positive detections of this insect within those counties.
Although San Mateo county is not currently under quarantine, proper procedures should be followed for those in the neighboring quarantined areas. Residents should not move fruit or vegetables that could potentially harbor the oriental fruit from the quarantined area. However, they may be consumed or processed (i.e., juiced, frozen, or cooked) on the property where they were picked, or disposed of by double bagging and placing in the regular trash, not green waste.
Oriental fruit flies are an invasive pest native to southern Asia. It is a pest to over 230 different kinds of fruit and vegetables threatening California’s $50 billion dollar agricultural industry. This pest has invaded California multiple times in the past decades due to the smuggling of contraband fruit harboring oriental fruit fly. To avoid further spread of the pest in the future, ensure that fruits and vegetables are purchased from reputable sellers and avoid bringing back illegal fruit while traveling.
For more information about the quarantine, call CDFA’s pest hotline at (800) 491-1899, read the CDFA press release, or visit the CDFA website for oriental fruit fly here.