The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has expanded the Huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine boundary in San Diego County following the confirmation of one HLB-positive residential citrus tree in Fallbrook. CDFA is also expanding the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Bulk Citrus Regional Quarantine Zone 6 to reflect the HLB quarantine boundary expansion. A map of the expanded boundary can be found on CDFA’s website here.
The area under the expanded quarantine boundary is comprised of over 220 businesses that may be affected by the expansion, including over 80 growers and 40 commercial nurseries.
Additionally, one HLB-positive tree was detected in Valley Center, but did not result in a quarantine expansion. CDFA officials have completed the treatment and removal of both infected trees. CDFA, alongside County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) staff, are conducting delimitation activities in the expanded quarantine area.
Commercial citrus growers now in the HLB quarantine area will need to obtain HLB Quarantine Compliance Agreements to continue to ship, process, harvest and/or sell their crops. Fruit that is not commercially cleaned and packed, including residential citrus, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits and kumquats, must not be moved from the property on which it is grown, although it may be processed (removal of stems and leaves, and a thorough washing) and/or consumed on the premises. CDFA and AWM staff are available to assist any industry members with these new requirements.
If you are impacted by this expanded quarantine and have any questions regarding quarantine or pre-quarantine program requirements, please contact AWM at CQP.AWM@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 614-7770. For general questions, please contact the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.