FRESNO (AP) ― California officials plan to quarantine an area in the state’s citrus belt where a pest capable of killing citrus trees was found.
California Department of Food and Agriculture spokes-man Steve Lyle said earlier this week that the state is working to determine the quarantine’s boundaries in Tulare County. The quarantine will go into effect next week.
An Asian citrus psyllid was discovered last week in a commercial citrus orchard in the county. The psyllid can spread a bacteria capable of killing citrus trees.
Officials were not able to determine whether the psyllid found near Strathmore was carrying the bacteria.
Lyle said that in other psyllid quarantines, only commercially cleaned and packed citrus fruit may be moved out of a quarantine area.