California Ag Network

Category: Citrus Industry

  • Citrus Season Update

    Citrus growers in California are seeing an early bloom with unprecedented warm weather, and are experiencing challenges with tariffs and trade issues. However, the mood remains optimistic. Julia Inestroza, Board Chair for the California Mutual, spoke with Matthew Malcolm of California Ag Network to discuss the growing season at the California Citrus Showcase in Visalia. Watch this quick video and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot for their industry support.

  • Citrus Greening Quarantine Expands in Southern California

    Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), is expanding the area quarantined for citrus greening (Huanglongbing), caused by the Asian citrus psyllid, in California. APHIS is establishing a new quarantined area in the Ramona area of San Diego County of 93 square miles and is expanding the quarantined area in the Loma Linda area of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties by 26 square miles. These measures parallel the intrastate quarantines that CDFA established on March 2, and March 6, 2026, respectively. APHIS is taking this action because of citrus greening detections in plant tissue samples collected from residential properties. There are 25.16 acres of commercial citrus impacted by the new Ramona quarantine and 411.47 acres of commercial citrus impacted by the Loma Linda area expansion.

    APHIS is applying safeguarding measures outlined in 7 CFR 301.76 and Federal Orders pertaining to the interstate movement of regulated articles from the quarantined areas in California. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of citrus greening to non-infested areas of the United States.

    The APHIS Citrus Greening webpage contains specific changes to the quarantined areas in California. APHIS will publish a notice of this change in the Federal Register.

  • CDFA Expands Orange Scab Quarantine Boundary in La Puente

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced it is expanding its sweet orange scab (SOS) quarantine in the La Puente area of Los Angeles County (grids 456 and 457). The quarantine is effective as of April 8.

    SOS is believed to be caused by Elsinöe australis, a fungal pathogen. The disease results in the formation of pustules and lesions on the skin of the citrus.

    Regulated articles and conditions for intrastate movement under the quarantine can be found at Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations section 3443. Interested parties and local entities may request to lift the quarantine area designations by submitting a written appeal supported by convincing evidence. Appeals must be filed within 10 working days of the notification. Quarantines will remain in effect during the appeal’s pending. Appeals can be mailed to: CDFA – Citrus Division 1220 N. St. Sacramento, CA 95814.

    Growers can sign up for regulatory updates at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/CADFA/subscriber/new. For questions regarding the regulations or map, reach out to Raymond Niem at Raymond.niem@cdfa.gov or call 916-274-6300

  • APHIS Expands the Sweet Orange Scab Quarantined Area in California

    Effective March 11, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), is expanding the area quarantined for sweet orange scab (SOS) in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles County in California. SOS is a disease caused by the fungus Elsinöe australis. APHIS is expanding the quarantined area by 80 square miles in Los Angeles County. APHIS is taking this action because of SOS detections in plant tissue samples collected from residential properties in Los Angeles County. This expansion does not impact commercial citrus.

    APHIS is applying safeguarding measures outlined in Federal Order DA-2024-34 pertaining to the interstate movement of regulated articles from the quarantined areas in California. This measure parallels the intrastate quarantine that CDFA established on March 2, 2026. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of SOS to non-infested areas of the United States.

    The APHIS Sweet Orange Scab website has information on this disease, Federal Orders, APHIS approved packinghouse procedures, and a description of current Federal SOS quarantined areas.

    For additional information you may contact:

    Abby R. Stilwell
    Agriculturalist
    (919) 323 -6296
    abby.r.stilwell@usda.gov

    Matthew A. Rhoads
    Acting Deputy Administrator
    Plant Protection and Quarantine

    — By the USDA Animal and Plant Hea

  • Citrus Brown Rot Prevention

    Phytophthora-related diseases can ruin citrus through brown rot and cause trees to steadily decline. Researchers UC Riverside are looking at new ways to tackle these diseases, and their work has resulted in three new modes of action that show promise. Professor and Plant Pathologist Jim Adaskaveg spoke with Matthew Malcolm from Malcolm Media Ag Publishing to discuss these new methods. Watch this quick video and learn more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot for their industry support.

  • Surveying Citrus Greening Risks in Southern California

    A screenshot of the risk-based survey for detecting huanglongbing (HLB) in Southern California. Colors represent the probability of HLB establishment or development, ranging from low risk (blue, near 0.0) to high risk (red, near 1.0). (Image provided by Weiqi Luo, North Carolina State University)

    Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening, is the most devasting disease of citrus worldwide and has cost billions of dollars in economic losses. HLB has severely affected the citrus industry in Florida before any remedial action could be taken by growers. In California, HLB has been reported in urban backyard citrus trees that are a potential source of the pathogen. These infected backyard citrus trees threaten surrounding commercial citrus groves.

    ARS researchers in Fort Pierce, FL, and their research partners developed a refined risk-based survey (RBS) to help stakeholders survey for HLB in complex urban and suburban landscapes in Southern California. The RBS is being used by the citrus stakeholders and plant health regulators to identify and remove infected trees, which will help preserve the health of nearby citrus groves. Use of the model optimizes survey efforts and allocation of resources to combat HLB. The RBS is also updated with new detection data and refined continuously to better guide surveillance of HLB in Southern California. An online interface makes the most recent survey available to stakeholders.

  • Using Predators to Counter Asian Citrus Psyllids

    The Asian citrus psyllid is an active threat for growers and the main vector for Huanglongbing disease. These invasive insects have wreaked havoc in Florida and spread to Southern California, but researchers at UC Riverside are finding ways to counter them. Matthew Malcolm from Malcolm Media Ag Publishing interviewed Bodil Cass at the World Ag Expo to discuss the use of predators against psyllids. Watch this quick video and read more in California Fruit & Vegetable Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Simplot for their industry support.

  • Registration Open for UC Riverside Citrus Day

    Registration is now open for the upcoming UC Riverside Citrus Field Day, which will run from 9 AM. to 3 PM on Thursday, February 19.

    The Field Day will cover a number of subjects of interest to citrus growers. This includes the latest updates on pesticide regulations and pest control, weed control, rootstock applications, citrus scion breeding and evaluation program fruit displays and updates on UCR Research.

    Registration is $50 per person, with lunch included. Parking is available in Lot 30 (across Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from the Ag Operations Office). The cost of parking is $11 and must be paid for through the ParkMobile app. There will be a shuttle available from the parking lot to the location.

    The Citrus Field Day is an outdoor field meeting. Attendees are advised to come with footwear appropriate for walking in citrus groves and on uneven ground, and to be prepared for potential changes in weather conditions.

    Agenda

    February 19, 2026

    8:45 AM     

    Registration and Parking

    9:00 AM     

    Welcome – Dr. Peggy Mauk and Dr. Tracy Kahn, University of California, Riverside

    9:15 AM     

    Updates on Changes in Pesticide Regulations, Fruit Fly Quarantine, ACP/HLB Regulations – Delia Cioc, Agricultural Commissioner and Chris Blake, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, Riverside County

    10:00 AM

    First Rotation (30 minutes per speaker)

    Strategies for Controlling Phytophthora spp. in Citrus – Dr. Jim Adaskaveg, University of California, Riverside

    Role of the California Citrus Clonal Protection Program in Disease Prevention – Dr. Georgios Vidalakis, University of California, Riverside

    11:10 AM

    Second Rotation (30 minutes per speaker)

    Strategies for Controlling Asian Citrus Psyllid – Dr. Bodil Cass, University of California, Riverside

    Weed Control Strategies – Dr. Matt Fatino, University of California, Agricultural and Natural Resources San Diego/Riverside Co.

    12:15 PM

    Lunch and Tasting Selections

    Tables for Tasting Selections:

    • Long-term Solutions for Citrus Huanglongbing – Dr. Chandrika Ramadugu, University of California, Riverside
    • UCR Citrus Scion Breeding and Evaluation Program Fruit Display – Toni Siebert Wooldridge, Karen Trunnelle, Dr. Tracy Kahn, Dr. Mikeal Roose, Dr. Danelle Seymour, and Dr. Claire Federici, University of California, Riverside
    • Citrus Relatives Rootstock Trial Tasting: Determining if using relatives as rootstocks impacts the flavor of navel oranges– Zach Thomas and Dr. Mikeal Roose, University of California, Riverside

    1:30 PM

    Third Rotation (30 minutes per speaker)

    Research Update and Overview of the CRaFT Program – Dr. Melinda Klein and Dr. Ivan Milosavljević, Citrus Research Board

    Strategies for Nutritional Management – Dr. Ben Faber, University of California, Agricultural and Natural Resources Ventura

    2:30 PM

    Wrap Up

    3:00 PM

    Adjourn

    Continuing Education Units: This event is approved for 1.0 Laws & Regulations and 2.5 Other CEUs from the California Department of Pesticide Regulations.

    For more information, call UCR Ag Operations at (951) 827-5906 or email agops@ucr.edu

    — UC Riverside

  • APHIS Expands Mediterranean Fruit Fly Quarantine in California

    The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) expanded the Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata; Medfly) quarantine in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, California. This action parallels the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expansion of the Santa Clara Medfly quarantine published on January 2.

    APHIS and CDFA expanded the Santa Clara Medfly quarantine following the confirmed detection on December 17 of one wild male Medfly from a trap in on a residential property in an orange tree in Milpitas, Santa Clara County. This action expanded the quarantine by 17 square miles and does not include additional commercial agriculture. The amended quarantine encompasses 241 square miles with 58.76 acres of commercial agriculture, including grape, olive, orange, pepper, stone fruit, and tomato.

    APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Medfly to non-infested areas of the United States, as well as to prevent the entry of these fruit flies into foreign trade. APHIS is working with CDFA and the Agricultural Commissioners of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties to eradicate this transient fruit fly population following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions

    The APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies website contains descriptions and maps of all current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of this change in the Federal Register. —USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

  • Lindcove Research & Extension Center Citrus Fruit Display & Tasting

    Citrus growers and those interested in planting new citrus varieties are invited to attend this one-of-a-kind Citrus Fruit Display & Tasting at the Lindcove Research & Extension Center on Friday, December 5th (8:30 a.m. – 2p.m.). Attendees are welcome to taste a wide variety of fruits at their leisure in an outdoor setting. Tours of the Lindcove Research & Extension Center facilities and fields will be offered. Engage in discussions on low seeded new varieties and pest/disease management issues and horticultural issues with the UC researchers. This year, UCANR VINE Connect will also feature live demonstrations from agricultural technology companies from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Please RSVP for VINE Connect tour here.