Tuesday 2 February, 2010

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) today declared a fruit fly outbreak at Wingfield in northern Adelaide.

The outbreak was confirmed following the detection of Mediterranean fruit fly larvae in nectarines grown in a backyard at Wingfield. A 1.5 kilometre quarantine area has been declared around the detection site.

PIRSA Biosecurity’s Manager Food and Plant Standards, Geoff Raven says it’s important that all people in this area do not remove fresh fruit, fruiting vegetables or garden waste from their properties during the eradication program.

“While the area is largely industrial, it is important that no fresh fruit, fruiting vegetables or garden waste is removed from properties until the eradication program is completed,” he said.

“Suburbs affected include parts of Wingfield, Angle Park, Mansfield Park, Athol Park, Ottoway, Pennington and Gillman.”

This is the first outbreak of fruit fly in South Australia this season, the last outbreak being in January 2008.

“The State Government has maintained a strong community awareness program around fruit fly and I’d like to praise the home owner who rang the Fruit Fly Hotline and reported the larvae. This early detection means we can act quickly and minimise the impact on the state,” Mr Raven said.

“If fruit fly becomes established in South Australia, this could jeopardise markets for our $480 million fresh fruit and vegetable industry.”

Mr Raven says a two-week program of organic bait spotting will be followed by the release into the area of sterile fruit flies.

“Residents and businesses within the quarantine area are being notified about the outbreak through a leaflet distribution and media advertisements,” Mr Raven said.

“The quarantine will be enforced until the completion of the eradication program which is anticipated to take about 12 weeks.

“Home grown fruit and fruiting vegetables can be removed from the quarantine area only if they have been cooked or processed. This includes tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, eggplant, stonefruits, pomefruits, citrus, loquats and table grapes.

“These are potential hosts for the pest and the movement of fruit and vegetables during the quarantine could start new outbreaks.”

Householders and property owners in the quarantine zone are asked to provide PIRSA’s fruit fly eradication teams with access to their properties, to check their backyard fruit and vegetables and to report any maggots to the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.

A small number of commercial growers in a quarantine suspension zone around the outbreak will have to treat and certify fruit fly susceptible produce for interstate markets. The precise area of this suspension zone is yet to be determined, but businesses will be contacted shortly once confirmed.

Information will be provided by PIRSA Biosecurity to key industry representatives and additional information will be available to affected growers via the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.