The quarantine zone for the Mexican fruit fly is expanding to even more areas of the Rio Grande Valley.
“Our costs are going up anywhere from $100 to $200 an acre, in some cases, continually spraying for the Mexican fruit fly,” Dale Murden, a local citrus grower, said.
One of Murden’s groves is located in Harlingen, just on the edge of one of the quarantine zones. He said the fruit fly problem is only getting worse.
Murden said without fruit, the fly doesn’t really spread. In February, there were only two quarantine zones for the Valley, both in Cameron County. Now, the fly’s reach covers most of Hidalgo County, and there is also a zone in Zapata County.
The citrus grower said quarantine zones can be tricky for growers. People who grow in those areas are still able to harvest fruit, but only under regulations.
Murden said growers across the Rio Grande are also suffering from the pest.
The fruit fly isn’t the only concern for the citrus industry in the Valley. Texas Citrus Mutual officials said all trees reported to be infected with citrus canker have to be removed. Crews are monitoring areas to see if they missed any trees that need to be removed.
The canker was found in lime trees in Rancho Viejo. Since then, more than 100 trees have been removed.
