- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
New Release from CDFA:
SACRAMENTO, August 30, 2018 – A portion of Sacramento and Yolo Counties have been placed under quarantine for the Oriental fruit fly following the detection of 15 flies in and around the southern part of the City of Sacramento near the Lemon Hill community. The quarantine zone measures 123 square miles, generally bordered on the north by El Camino Avenue; on the south by Laguna Boulevard; on the west by the Sacramento River; and on the east by Bradshaw Road. A link to the quarantine map may be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/off/regulation.html.
To prevent the spread of Oriental fruit flies through homegrown fruits and vegetables, residents living in the quarantine area are urged not to move those items from their property. However, they may be consumed or processed (i.e. juiced, frozen, cooked, or ground in the garbage disposal) on the property where they were grown, or disposed of by double-bagging and placing in the regular trash bin, not green waste.
Following the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), CDFA primarily uses the “male attractant” technique to eradicate this pest. Trained workers squirt a small patch of fly attractant mixed with a very small dose of pesticide approximately 10 feet off the ground on street trees and similar surfaces; male fruit flies are attracted to the mixture and perish after consuming it. This approach has successfully eliminated dozens of fruit fly infestations from California over the last several decades.
The Oriental fruit fly is known to target over 230 different fruit, vegetable, and plant commodities. Damage occurs when the female fruit fly lays her eggs inside the fruit. The eggs hatch into maggots and tunnel through the flesh of the fruit, making it unfit for consumption.
While fruit flies and other invasive species that threaten California's crops and natural environment are sometimes detected in agricultural areas, the vast majority are found in urban and suburban communities. The most common pathway for these pests to enter the state is by “hitchhiking” in fruits and vegetables brought back illegally by travelers when they return from infested regions of the world or ship infested produce through the mail. Help protect California's agricultural and natural resources; please Don't Pack a Pest (www.dontpackapest.com) when traveling or mailing packages.
The Oriental fruit fly is widespread throughout much of the mainland of southern Asia and neighboring islands, including Sri Lanka and Taiwan, and it has invaded other areas, most notably Africa and Hawaii.
Residents with questions about the project may call CDFA's Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. Additional information may be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/off/
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To learn more and read recent news coverage about the Oriental fruit fly issue in Sacramento, see the following resources:
![Oriental fruit fly adult. [Credit: County of San Diego] Oriental fruit fly adult. [Credit: County of San Diego]](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/55039.jpg)
- Author: Julia Van Soelen Kim
Are you interested in selling your produce to wholesale buyers but not sure how? The produce distribution industry is mobilizing to meet consumer demand to “know your farmer” and needs well-prepared farmers to work with.
![farmer-tour-banner-image FINAL farmer-tour-banner-image FINAL](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCCESonoma/blogfiles/27733.png)
February 24, 2015
All Day
Tour Stops include:
- SF Wholesale Produce Market (several wholesalers and distributors)
- The FruitGuys
- Cal Dining (university food service)
- And more (food hub)
North Bay growers can board the bus at several locations to be determined along HWY 101.
Online registration. Space is limited. Tour costs $20 per person and includes all-day bus transportation, a light breakfast, and lunch. Scholarships are available and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
![San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCCESonoma/blogfiles/27734.jpg)
See you on the bus!
Funded by grants from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, CoBank, Farm Credit West, American AgCredit, and Farm Credit Services of Colusa-Glenn.
- Author: Karen Giovannini
If you're an aspiring/beginning farmer or rancher with at least one year or more of experience under your belt, and want to learn how to take your operation to the next level - increasing your farming/ranching knowledge, connecting with experienced farmers/ranchers (Masters), receiving hands-on education, and creating crop, grazing and business plans, please apply for this year's program!
Applications for the AGROpreneurship Beginning Farmer & Rancher Training Program are due April 19, 2013.
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