Feek Family Citrus, located off Orange Avenue in western St. Lucie County, grows, packs and ships citrus from local groves across the country. During peak season, 300,000 cartons are shipped off each containing about 100 oranges.
San Diego, California – The California Department of Food and Agriculture has issued a new quarantine in northern San Diego County and part of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton after inspectors confirmed a citrus tree infected with Huanglongbing, a bacterial disease that is lethal to citrus.
The infected tree was discovered during routine inspections in a residential neighborhood in San Clemente, just over the county line in Orange County. The find triggered San Diego’s first multi-jurisdictional quarantine, stretching from southern Orange County through the San Onofre and Agra areas and into the northwest part of Camp Pendleton. Similar quarantines were already in place in Fallbrook, Oceanside, Rancho Bernardo and Valley Center.
The disease, also known as citrus greening or HLB, is spread by a tiny insect called the Asian citrus psyllid. When the insect feeds on trees, it can transmit bacteria that cause mottled yellow leaves, asymmetrical and bitter fruit, and ultimately death within a few years. While harmless to people and animals, HLB is catastrophic for citrus, threatening both backyard trees and the county’s $144 million annual citrus industry.
“Unfortunately, Huanglongbing is fatal to citrus, so our goal is to prevent this disease from spreading,” San Diego Agricultural Commissioner Ha Dang said in a statement. “By working together, we can all protect our food supply, local agriculture and environment from this devastating disease.”
Under the quarantine, people and businesses are barred from moving citrus plants, fruit, or clippings outside the restricted area. Officials are urging residents to wash fruit thoroughly if they plan to share it, double-bag plant clippings before disposal, and avoid transporting any citrus plants out of their yards. Those who no longer want to care for citrus trees are encouraged to contact tree removal services so infected or neglected trees do not become a host for the pest.
The state is also increasing inspections and treatments around the property where the infected tree was found. If HLB is confirmed in additional trees within the quarantine zone, CDFA officials will contact property owners directly to arrange removal of diseased trees and treatment of those nearby.
While commercial citrus growers and nurseries are not expected to be directly impacted by the new quarantine, county officials are warning that the stakes are high. A widespread outbreak could devastate San Diego’s citrus groves and erase a crop that has long been a staple of the region’s agriculture.
Residents are urged to report any suspicious or dying citrus trees to the state hotline at 800-491-1899 or online at CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org.
