Table grape growers in California's Fresno County who farm within a 250km2 quarantine area will face inspections of their fields and fumigation treatment of their fruit, Californian agricultural officials announced on Wednesday.
The officials met with over 200 farmers at the Kearney Agricultural Centre, in the city of Parlier, to inform them of measures being implemented to protect against the European grapevine moth, which was discovered in the area last week.
The moth has the potential to devastate vineyards very quickly, and Mexico immediately suspended all shipments of fruit from the region upon the discovery, a big blow for California stonefruit shippers on the eve of the export season.
The Fresno Bee reported that at the meeting in Parlier, growers heard Mexico would not accept table grapes packed from a county where quarantine for the grapevine moth had been established, but a USDA official said the government is working with Mexican authorities to reach an agreement.
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