Citrus greening is one of the biggest threats to California’s citrus industry. During recent weeks, that threat has reached a new level in Orange, San Diego, and Riverside counties, where a citrus greening quarantine has been applied to multiple residential zones.
The quarantine applies to regions like Foothill Ranch, Mission Viejo, Riverside, and Valley Center, where plant tissue samples have shown positive signs of citrus greening. Spread by the Asian citrus psyllid insect and officially known as Huanglongbing (HLB), citrus greening almost always leads to tree loss, causing a significant decline in fruit quality (including defoliation, mottling, yellowing leaves, and bitter taste) and an increase in early fruit drop along the way. There’s no cure, which is why it’s important to stop the disease’s spread to uninfected areas.
How do we stop the spread? By restricting the movement of citrus plants, potentially infected trees, and related plant materials within the quarantine borders. For updates on the quarantine in Southern California, visit the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website and take a look at their Citrus Federal Quarantine Boundary Viewer.
Although there is no known treatment for citrus greening, our supply centers can provide you with the tools, pesticides, and expertise needed for a generalized pest management plan. Visit one of our stores today to help protect your growing operation.