Oriental fruit fly

Updated May 16, 2024

A recent oriental fruit fly (OFF) quarantine, spurred by the discovery of the pest in August 2023 was lifted in May. This is not the first time that Santa Clara County has been invaded by the OFF as it has been detected in our area several times over the last decade. Each time our partners at the California Department of Food and Agriculture successfully eradicated the fruit fly.

The oriental fruit fly is found throughout much of the southern Asia mainland and neighboring islands. Distribution in the United States is restricted to the Hawaiian Islands. The fruit fly threatens more than 230 kinds of fruit and vegetables, including citrus, grapes, stone fruits, apples, pears, avocadoes, peppers, and tomatoes.   

The infestations in Santa Clara County were the result of contraband fruit being smuggled into California. We ask all residents and travelers not to bring fruit or vegetables from other states or countries to Santa Clara County. Exotic fruit flies threaten the state’s multibillion-dollar agricultural industry as well as our natural and urban environments.   

If you see expensive tropical fruits for sale or tropical produce with holes or containing maggots, it’s a highly likely they were smuggled into the South Bay. In those cases, please contact the County of Santa Clara Division of Agriculture at [email protected] or (408) 918-4600.