California expands HLB quarantine
The California Department of Food and Agriculture says it has expanded the state’s huanglongbing, or HLB, quarantine boundary to prevent the spread of Asian citrus psyllid, which transmits the bacteria that causes HLB, in the state.
The new boundary includes the San Gabriel area of Los Angeles County, according to a news release. CDFA said a map of the expanded boundary is available online.
The Packer reported California's navel orange volume for 2023 was expected to be between 66 million and 70 million 40-pound cartons.
CDFA first detected HLB on a single citrus tree in San Bernardino County in 2019 and instituted the first quarantine.
This quarantine prohibits the movement of citrus nursery stock or plant parts. Picked citrus fruit — including oranges, lemons, grapefruit and kumquats — that is not commercially cleaned and packed must remain on the property where it originated.
