California Fruit and Vegetable

Tag: citrus disease

  • APHIS Expands Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine

    Effective Aug. 19, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), expanded the area quarantined for sweet orange scab (SOS) in the Burbank, Los Angeles and Long Beach areas of Los Angeles County and the Anaheim and Garden Grove areas of Orange County. SOS is a disease caused by the fungus Elsinöe australis. APHIS is expanding the quarantined area by 110 square miles in Los Angeles County and 67 square miles in Orange County. APHIS is taking this action because of SOS detections in plant tissue samples collected from residential properties in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. There are 2.5 acres of commercial citrus impacted by the Anaheim and Garden Grove area expansion

    APHIS is applying safeguarding measures outlined in Federal Order DA-2024-34 pertaining to the interstate movement of regulated articles from the quarantined areas in California. This measure parallels the intrastate quarantine that CDFA established on June 18, 2026. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of SOS to non-infested areas of the United States

    The APHIS Sweet Orange Scab webpage has information on this disease, Federal Orders, APHIS approved packinghouse procedures, and a description of current Federal SOS quarantined areas.

    For additional information growers may contact:

    Abby R. Stilwell
    Agriculturalist
    919-323-6296
    abby.r.stilwell@usda.gov

    — Story contributed by USDA APHIS

  • CDFA Expands Sweet Orange Scab Quarantine in La Puente

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced it is expanding its sweet orange scab (SOS) quarantine in the La Puente area of Los Angeles County (grids 456 and 457). The quarantine is effective as of April 8.

    SOS is believed to be caused by Elsinöe australis, a fungal pathogen. The disease results in the formation of pustules and lesions on the skin of the citrus.

    Regulated articles and conditions for intrastate movement under the quarantine can be found at Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations section 3443. Interested parties and local entities may request to lift the quarantine area designations by submitting a written appeal supported by convincing evidence. Appeals must be filed within 10 working days of the notification. Quarantines will remain in effect during the appeal’s pending. Appeals can be mailed to: CDFA – Citrus Division 1220 N. St. Sacramento, CA 95814.

    Growers can sign up for regulatory updates at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/CADFA/subscriber/new. For questions regarding the regulations or map, reach out to Raymond Niem at Raymond.niem@cdfa.gov or call 916-274-6300