Authorities are urging residents who recently purchased grapevines from Costco stores in Monterey, Santa Cruz or Santa Clara counties to contact the San Benito County Agriculture Department as part of a statewide effort to stop the spread of a destructive invasive insect.
Department staff announced the request on June 3, following an emergency response coordinated by the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association to contain the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
The invasive insect can spread Pierce’s disease, a bacterial infection that threatens California vineyards and other agricultural crops, says a press release from the county.
Agricultural officials said potentially affected grapevines may have been distributed through Costco warehouses in Northern California. County agriculture departments are working to locate, inspect and, if necessary, remove infested plants before the pest becomes established, county staff said.
Residents who bought grapevines from the affected stores are asked not to move or dispose of the plants until they receive guidance from agricultural officials, says the press release. Instead, they should contact the San Benito County Department of Agriculture at 831.801.9225 to arrange an inspection.
Officials said the statewide response is aimed at identifying and removing potentially infested plants as quickly as possible to protect the agriculture industry from the economic and environmental impacts of the pest.
