LOS ANGELES — The discovery of almost 30 intrusive fruit flies has triggered a produce quarantine impacting over 79 square miles (204.6 square kilometers) of Los Angeles County as state and regional authorities shot to stop the fly from dispersing and harming California’s fruit and veggie market.
It’s the veryfirst quarantine ever in the Western Hemisphere for the Tau fruit fly, which is native to Asia, farming authorities stated. The fly was found on June 6 in the unincorporated location of Stevenson Ranch, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles, and was mostlikely brought by a tourist taking uninspected fruitandvegetables into California, authorities stated.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture revealed the quarantine last week.
“We’re a huge avenue in terms of shipping and trade,” stated Ken Pellman, representative for Los Angeles County’s Agricultural Commission. “We desire to keep an eye out and avoid things from coming here in the veryfirst location, and if it comes here, to remove it rapidly previously it spreads.”
Avocados, tomatoes and watermelons are simply a coupleof of the approximately 100 fruits that can play host to the fly, making it mucheasier to gain a grip. If it spreadsout, the fly might damage crops and timely f