Citrus quarantine expanded

By City News Service

REGION — The California Department of Food and Agriculture declared a citrus quarantine in a 95-square-mile area of Rancho Bernardo on Tuesday after detecting a potentially threatening citrus tree disease during routine inspections.

The disease, known as Huanglongbing, is a major threat to San Diego’s $115 million annual citrus crop, county officials said.

Trees infected with the bacterial disease can produce misshapen, bitter fruit and the disease can eventually kill the tree.

The quarantine announced Tuesday comes after HLB was found in a residential lime tree in the area and is in addition to the existing HLB quarantine in the city of Oceanside.

It covers the area bordered on the north by the intersection of Interstate 15 and Auto Park Way; to the south by Poway Road; to the west by Via De Las Flores; and to the east by Lake Ramona.

“Unfortunately, Huanglongbing is fatal

TURN TO CITRUS ON 17