oranges

The US Secretariat of Agriculture has declared certain areas within the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon as free from fruit fly via an announcement in the Diario Oficial (Federal Register), according to the USDA.

The newly-defined area contains about 200ha of citrus trees with an estimated production of 2,250 tonnes of fruit.

Nuevo Leon has an estimated 25,440 hectares planted with orange groves which produce approximately 325,000 tonnes of the fruit annually.

While the announcement will not change current export procedures for any Mexican citrus produced in the region, nor the conditions under which shipments can be made, the USDA said the move is seen as a first step to gain fruit fly free status for the entire state.

Zones now recognised as free from the Anastrepha Fruit Fly include: Agualeguas, Los Aldamas, Anáhuac, El Carmen, Cerralvo, Ciénega de Flores, China, Doctor Coss, General Bravo, General Treviño, General Zuazua, Los Herreras, Higueras, Lampazos de Naranjo, Melchor Ocampo, Parás, Sabinas Hidalgo, Salinas Victoria and Vallecillo.