CA medfly quarantine preventing 100,000lbs of orange donations

A medfly quarantine for San Fernando Valley citrus is now preventing at least 100,000 pounds of backyard oranges and other fruit from being harvested for needy residents.

Officials at Food Forward, a nonprofit that harvests surplus fruit for the poor, say the loss is impacting thousands of hungry residents at food pantries across Southern California.

“About 100,000 pounds of backyard produce will not be available to us — and to folks in need,” said Rick Nahmias, executive director of the North Hollywood-based charity. “We’re talking mostly oranges, grapefruits and lemons and tangerines. And avocados.

“We have (the rest of) Los Angeles and its abundance to make up for this … We need people to help. We need them to donate.”

About 300,000 pounds of backyard produce is harvested each year by thousands of trained and insured volunteers, Nahmias said. Of that, a third will go unharvested in the Valley this year because of the state agricultural medfly quarantine.

Anyone outside the quarantine zone who wishes to donate their surplus backyard produce can sign up at www.foodforward.org.

source: dailynews.com

Publication date: 3/13/2017

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