All Exotic Fruit Fly Invasions Now Snuffed Out in California

By California Department of Food and Agriculture|August 21, 2024

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), working in coordination with the USDA, the Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner, and the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner, has declared an end to the Oriental fruit fly quarantine in the Redlands-area following eradication of the invasive species. The lifting of this quarantine signals the successful completion of a nearly year-long collaborative effort to eradicate four unique invasive fruit fly species (Tau, Queensland, Mediterranean, and Oriental) from seven quarantine areas across seven California counties — San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Clara, Sacramento, and Contra Costa.

“This was an unprecedented situation for California to experience this many active invasive fruit fly quarantines at one time,” says Victoria Hornbaker, Director of CDFA’s Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division. “The response to these destructive invasive species was an enormous effort, and thanks to the cooperation of residents, affected farmers, and our government partners at the local and federal levels, we’re incredibly proud to have successfully lifted all active invasive fruit fly quarantines in the state of California.”

It’s important to remember that the threat of new fruit fly introductions remains. Left unchecked, they can endanger the state’s natural environment, agriculture, and economy.

For more information about invasive fruit flies and how to protect your produce from them, continue reading at cdfa.ca.org.