In a matter of weeks after a Mediterranean fruit fly was detected in Coquimbo, another key Chilean fruit-growing region has registered an outbreak of the pest.

Growers are taking the matter very seriously, but fortunately both outbreaks have occurred in urban areas.

Website Mercuriovalpo.cl reported that on Tuesday the country's Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) trapped two specimens of the fly in San Esteban, which lies in the Los Andes province of the Valparaiso region.

SAG regional director Francisca Herrera said the agency was placing a great number of traps in the area, and had beefed up controls at border crossings.

In a release, Los Andes Farmers Association president Verónica Arritola called on the community to help protect Chile's plant heritage by preventing the pest's spread.

"As you know the protocol for this detection considers a quarantine radius of 7.2km, and required treatments will start to be implemented for every destination country, as well as eradication measures," she said.

In response to the Coquimbo detection, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ) announced all fruit from that region would have to be given in-transit cold treatment if it were to be exported to China. However, once Chinese inspectors arrive in Chile there is the possibility the quarantine area will be reduced.

Photo: Daniel Feliciano, via Wikimedia Creative Commons

www.freshfruitportal.com