Fruit fly restrictions end in metropolitan Adelaide

PIRSA’s Fruit Fly Response General Manager Nick Secomb said all fruit movement restrictions have now been lifted in metropolitan Adelaide, meaning everyone can once again freely move any fruit and vegetables.

“Getting rid of fruit fly in metropolitan Adelaide over the past two years been a huge team effort from everyone – residents, industry, businesses, community groups and the fruit fly response team,” Mr Secomb said.

“Thank you to everyone for supporting fruit movement restrictions, allowing the PIRSA team to access and bait backyards, for maintaining your gardens and correctly disposing of waste.

“Those in the Ridleyton and surrounding area, who were previously in the affected fruit fly area, can now pack lunches with any fresh fruit and vegetables - like locally grown strawberries, apples and pears.

“While the outbreaks in metropolitan Adelaide are over, we are currently in the peak fruit fly breeding months and PIRSA is still working to eradicate two Riverland outbreaks.

“I ask everyone to please remain vigilant and keep your gardens tidy to prevent fruit fly, no matter where you live.

“Stone fruit is currently in season, including apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums – as well as figs and tomatoes – and these are all fruits and fruiting vegetables in which fruit fly lay their eggs.

“Please pick fruit once ripe, collect all fallen fruit, check fruit for maggots, and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 if you see anything suspicious.

“We all need to play our part to protect South Australia from fruit fly so that we can proudly continue to be fruit fly free.

“All your efforts protect our growers and our $1.3 billion horticulture industry at risk from fruit fly.”

The end-dates for the Queensland fruit fly outbreaks in Pike River and Renmark West have recently been extended and restrictions will now remain until 6 May 2022, if there are no further detections.

Visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au