Citrus Quarantine Program (CQP)
The department’s Citrus Quarantine Program (CQP) supports and promotes the local citrus industry by enforcing Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB) quarantine regulations. Inspections conducted by CQP inspectors ensure compliance in order to suppress the movement of ACP and therefore mitigate the potential spread of HLB.
***New Announcement for Commercial Citrus Growers and Residential Growers of Citrus***
The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) and the County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) announced a detection of adult Asian citrus psyllids (ACP) confirmed positive for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) the bacteria that causes the deadly plant disease Huanglongbing (HLB) in a commercial citrus grove in Pauma Valley.
ACP are tiny insects may transmit CLas bacteria from citrus tree to citrus tree as they feed on new growth. The CLas bacteria cause a citrus disease called Huanglongbing (HLB), deadly to citrus and has no cure, but not harmful to other plants, animals, or people. HLB has not been detected in trees at this detection site.
Pauma Valley
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The CLas bacteria were detected in a commercial citrus grove during a routine state survey for ACP on June 6, 2022. The detection was reported to AWM on June 29, 2022.
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The commercial citrus grove detection is the first in the county and only the second in the State in a commercial grove.
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All citrus growers, packers, shippers and transporters in the county must have an ACP Compliance Agreement from AWM to move any citrus fruit (contact CQP.AWM@sdcounty.ca.gov). No additional restrictions are currently in place due to these new detections.
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Commercial citrus growers may contact San Diego County Citrus Pest Control District at 951-334-7611 or CDFA Grower Liaison Sandra Zwaal at szwaal2@gmail.com for more information.
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This bacterial detection in ACP is the second in San Diego county. The first was in Fallbrook (December 2020).
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Visit CitrusInsider and CaliforniaCitrusThreat for more information.
General Information
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Pauma Valley is one of the most productive commercial citrus growing areas in San Diego county.
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It is more crucial than ever that we stop the disease from spreading by eradicating ACP populations in commercial groves.
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CDFA will survey and sample citrus plants on the property where the bacterial detection occurred and surrounding properties. Samples will be tested for the disease HLB.
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At this time, the disease has not been detected in citrus trees at the location. If any plant sample is positive for HLB, then a 60-square mile quarantine area will go into effect.
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An HLB detection in any (commercial or residential) citrus tree would initiate additional requirements.
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Commercial citrus growers would need an HLB Compliance Agreement and to follow Spray and Harvest procedures to move citrus fruit.
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Residential citrus tree owners would be restricted from moving citrus fruit off their property.
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HLB symptoms: blotchy yellowing of leaves, yellow shoots, lopsided, small, and rancid-tasting fruit, and premature, excessive fruit drop.
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Now is also a critical time for homeowners to protect their backyard citrus trees by searching for the Asian citrus psyllid and Huanglongbing. If you notice symptoms on your citrus trees or would like more information, please contact the CDFA Report-a-Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.
Oceanside Quarantine Information
Videos
Learn how to support the HLB fight as a citrus hobbyist at FruitMentor’s Youtube page (links below)
Dangers of Moving Citrus Fruit in California (Vietnamese)
English / Español / Tiếng Việt / 한국어 / 普通话 / 粵語
The Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP) Released a
new 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA), “What If California
Citrus Disappeared?”
California Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC)
endorses “Best Practices for Growers in Response to HLB in California.”
To provide California citrus growers with a strong toolbox of
options to protect their orchards from Huanglongbing (HLB), the Citrus
Pest & Disease Prevention Committee has endorsed the following
“Best Practices for Growers in Response to HLB in California.” The
recommendations – which are grouped based on a grower’s proximity to
an HLB detection – represent the most effective tools known to the
citrus industry at this time and are meant to supplement the
California Department of Food and Agriculture’s required regulatory
response.
Growers are encouraged to use as many methods
as feasible for their operation in order to limit the spread of the
Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and HLB, as the cost to manage the Asian
citrus psyllid is far less than any potential costs or loss to the
industry should HLB take hold throughout our state.
Please visit CitrusInsider.org for more information.
Huanglongbing (HLB) Sampling for Growers
HLB Sample Collection and Submission Protocol
Citrus Pest Detection Program (CPDP) Services
The following are links that are provided to assist both homeowners and industry members alike.
Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP)
Homeowner Oriented: https://californiacitrusthreat.org/
Industry Oriented: https://citrusinsider.org/
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) ACP Information
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/acp/
CDFA Notice of Treatment (NOT) Information
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/acp/treatment_maps.html#maps
CDFA currently coordinates areawide treatments for ACP present in San Diego county when no other mitigation methods are available. CDFA posts Notices of Treatment (NOTs) at least 48 hours in advance of any treatment. To view NOTs for San Diego county, please click here.
United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Citrus Information
Contact Information
Residents can contact the San Diego County Dept. of Agriculture, Weights & Measures’
Citrus Quarantine Program at CQP.AWM@sdcounty.ca.gov or by calling (858) 614-7770 for more information.
Commercial Growers can also contact the San Diego County
Grower Liaison, Sandra Zwaal, at szwaal2@gmail.com for more information.
Email labs.awm@sdcounty.ca.gov (Please put “Entomology” in the subject line to ensure timely routing) or call (858) 614-7738 for more information.
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