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Boundary change to Yakima County apple maggot quarantine area approved

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) today announced an increase in the size of the apple maggot quarantine area in Yakima County. The boundary change will go into effect Aug. 1.

The old quarantine area included the western half of the county. The change adds the northeast quadrant of the county to the quarantine zone. The boundary line of the new area follows Ahtanum Ridge, to include the city of Union Gap east the Columbia River.

The boundary change was the subject of a public hearing held June 8, 2006 in Yakima. No one spoke against the proposal at the hearing. One person submitted written testimony in favor of the proposal to change the boundary.

Dr. James Marra, state Department of Agriculture managing entomologist, stressed that growers will be able to continue to ship commercial apples from the quarantined area. Under quarantine rules, apples can be shipped from a quarantined area if WSDA certifies that no apple maggot flies were trapped within a half-mile of the orchard or that flies were caught within a half-mile of the orchard, but inspections reveal no apple maggot larvae in the fruit.

Marra emphasized no apple maggot larvae have ever been detected in commercially packed fruit in Washington.

The purpose of the state’s apple maggot quarantine program is to ensure healthy apple crops, and strong domestic and foreign markets.

Persons with questions on the apple maggot quarantine area change may call the WSDA toll-free hotline (1-800-443-6684), or visit the agency Web site at http://www.agr.wa.gov/LawsRules/Rulemaking/PP/AppleMaggot030106.htm.

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