Oriental Fruit Flies Prompt Quarantine in Santa Clara County

Portions of Santa Clara County, including Santa Clara, Cupertino, Milpitas, San Jose, and Sunnyvale, are under quarantine due to the discovery of eight oriental fruit flies. The quarantine is expected to last until June of next year, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture will treat the area with bait to control the flies. Residents are advised not to move homegrown fruits or vegetables outside the quarantine area and can dispose of them in regular trash bins. The oriental fruit fly is an invasive pest that poses a threat to California's agricultural industry, with crops valued at $19.3 billion in 2020.