Fruit flies left a big mark on more than 4,000 acres of orchards across the Rio Grande Valley. Texas Citrus Mutual said the fruit fly cost growers about $1 million in profits.
Fred Karle has several hundred acres inside a quarantine zone for the Mexican fruit fly. He along with the USDA worked to get the pest out. “It’s important for the marketing for our fruit that we control that,” he said.
According to Texas Citrus Mutual, growers pay on average $200 to $300 per acre to spray. This year over 270 growers across the Valley took a hit by the pest. The reason the fight has a tough time ending is due to citrus trees people have for personal use.
“That’s actually where most of our quarantine comes from, it’s not from our growers cause we’re protecting our groves. It comes from our neighbors who have trees in their yard are not treated,” Karle said.
source: krgv.com
