The many hands of the California Conservation Corps’ help CDFA protect state’s food supply

Corpsmembers disposed of more than 770,000 pounds of fruit to help combat Oriental fruit fly infestation

The California Department of Food and Agriculture is used to hard work, like setting quarantines and eradicating fruit fly infestations and other pests that could otherwise threaten the state's crops, gardens and natural landscapes. For an ongoing Oriental fruit fly quarantine in the Redlands area of San Bernardino County, though, we needed a hand - or a lot of hands - so the California Conservation Corps (CCC) stepped up.

The video above was produced by the CCC to highlight the work of Corpsmembers who helped us remove and dispose of more than 770,000 pounds of fruit from more than 1,600 residential properties in the infested area in recent weeks. Fruit removal prevents the flies from laying their eggs in the fruit, interrupting the flies' reproductive cycle. It was a big lift, and we sincerely appreciate the CCC's help.

Note - the fruit collected by CCC crews is being double-bagged and appropriately disposed-of at a local landfill.

More information about the quarantine is available here.