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Exotic Fruit Fly Quarantines in California

TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS FLIES, CALL TOLL-FREE: 1-800 491-1899

Pre-Harvest Treatments

  

All exotic fruit fly host fruits and vegetables grown inside the quarantine area must be treated if intended for sale or for movement within or outside of the quarantine area. The crop owner or grower must provide all necessary chemicals, personnel, application and safety equipment. Treatments must be conducted in accordance with the product/pesticide label and all county, state, and federal laws. Registration for “Special Local Need” with your County Agricultural Commissioner may be required for the use of Malathion™. An officer from the Project must monitor all treatments. The Project must receive advance notification of each intended application.

To be eligible for movement within or outside of the quarantined area, a minimum of four applications must be made during the pre-harvest treatment period. The pre-harvest treatment period is a minimum of 30 days, but could be longer, depending on the life cycle degree-day calculations. The life-cycle degree day calculations are updated at least every two weeks by incorporating the actual daily temperatures in place of daily temperature estimates. Therefore, the pre-harvest treatment period is subject to change. The Pre-harvest Treatment Schedule should be checked on a regular basis.

Upon completion of the all required pre-harvest treatment applications, a permit will be issued authorizing the movement of the treated commodity for ten consecutive days. The effective date of any permit issued is the day after completion of treatment. The permit will be valid for a specified amount of time (usually ten days). If harvest is expected to continue beyond the permit end date, additional applications will be required. Failure to comply with the treatment schedule will result in the fruit or vegetables becoming ineligible for movement.