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Protect Your Garden from Invasive Species This Spring

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Date: Apr 30 , 2025
Category: News & Announcements

California Residents Encouraged to Take Precautions to Protect Home Gardens from Invasive Species Amid Spring Gardening Seasons

As gardening season blooms across California, officials with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) are urging residents to stay alert and take action to prevent the introduction of invasive fruit flies and other pests, which can threaten backyard gardens and the state’s robust agricultural landscape.

Invasive fruit flies are tiny pests no bigger than a grain of rice that can infest and ruin over 250 types of produce.

Following an unprecedented spike in fruit fly detections in 2023 and 2024, California established several quarantine areas to slow the spread of these harmful insects. Now, as Californians eagerly return to their gardens this spring, CDFA is reinforcing the importance of prevention to keep destructive pests out of the state.

As California residents look to freshen up their garden or cultivate their first garden, CDFA is offering best practices residents can follow to help protect their backyard harvest, including:

  • Please do not bring or ship produce, plants or other natural materials into San Diego from other states or countries, as they could unintentionally spread destructive pests. 
  • Purchase plants, produce, seeds or other natural materials from local, licensed nurseries and retailers.  
  • Learn what to look for, inspect your homegrown produce for signs of invasive fruit flies or maggots and report your findings to the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. 

“Protecting California from invasive pests requires collaboration and vigilance,” said Victoria Hornbaker, director of CDFA’s Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division. “Whether you grow your own produce or simply enjoy California-grown fruits and vegetables, we all have a role to play in preserving the health of our agriculture and environment.”

By working together and taking simple steps this spring, crops grown in residential backyards and California’s agricultural industry can thrive for years to come. Learn more at CAFruitFly.com or StopInvasivePests.com.