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Holiday season spells fruit fly danger time

Friday, 28 September 2007

This long weekend represents a high risk for fruit fly, with people traveling interstate for the AFL Grand Final, the start of the school holidays and later in the week, the Bathurst 1000 V8 car event.

People are reminded when returning to South Australia from their break to not bring fruit or vegetables across the border and also to remind friends and relatives visiting from interstate to do the same.

Geoff Raven, PIRSA Manager Food and Plant Standards said the State was fortunate last year to record a fruit fly outbreak free season – the second in three years.

“The fruit fly free season was due to a big effort from the community, industry and our inspectors - and all are to be thanked,” Mr Raven said.

“Let’s all do the right thing and keep up this effort.

“I call on the public to continue to heed our warnings not to travel into the State with fruit and vegetables and to use roadside and airport quarantine bins when travelling. It can only benefit our State.

“A single piece of infested fruit has the potential to impact on the State’s $500 million fresh fruit and vegetable industry (farm gate).

“Maintaining fruit fly free status ensures ongoing access to lucrative export markets worth tens of millions of dollars.

“It also means we can enjoy the luxury of delicious home grown fruit that is not infested with fruit fly maggots.

“Many of our growers are also battling drought, let’s not further burden them with dealing with a fruit fly outbreak.”

Call the fruit fly hotline on 1300 666 010 to report maggots in fruit or for more information on fruit fly.