Hold the mangos, please.

After spending the spring battling the Mediterranean fruit fly in Pompano Beach, DPI is looking forward to only having one more month left in this eradication cycle, pending no new fly finds. There were three core areas around Medfly finds in Pompano, and one of the core area eradication cycles ended on May 4. The two other core areas are scheduled to end on June 16 and June 18. Things are looking up for the eradication program, but mangos coming into season could throw a kink in eradication plans. You can help prevent prolonging eradication completion by following DPI guidelines for moving host plants and fruit.

Mangos are a known host for Medfly and are in production in the Pompano Beach area. Also, many homeowners near the Medfly find core areas have backyard mango trees. While shipping tasty, homegrown Florida mangos to friends and relatives in other parts of the state and country might seem like a nice thing to do, it could be detrimental to eradication efforts.

If you are in the Medfly quarantine area, it is illegal to move fruit, vegetables or nuts within or outside of the quarantine area. Moving fruit risks the spread of Medfly. We ask that you do not move fresh fruit from your property, as even delicious-looking fruit could be full of Medfly maggots which quickly hatch into adult flies. Also, please pick up any fallen or extra fruit. When you dispose of fruit, tie it in a plastic bag and put it out with household trash, not yard waste. Don’t just follow these instructions yourself; tell your friends and family, too! Everyone’s cooperation is needed to successfully eradicate the Medfly.

If you are located in the Medfly quarantine area, you’ll probably come across this poster. If you have any questions, please visit the DPI website or call the division’s toll-free helpline at 888-397-1517. For background information, check out our related blog posts.

Power to the plant people!

The purpose the Division of Plant Industry is to detect, intercept and control plant and honey bee pests that threaten Florida’s native and commercially grown plants and agricultural resources.  DPI is able to carry out its purpose because of the dedicated individuals who work each day to support the division’s mission. DPI doesn’t exist as a government agency that simply regulates and industry. DPI functions as a dynamic community of scientists, communicators, administrators, inspectors and supporters who work together to protect Florida’s environment and agriculture industry.

Last week, DPI hosted its annual Spring Awards Luncheon at the Gainesville headquarter office, with subsequent luncheons at branch office locations. This awards function is an opportunity to recognize individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty to serve Floridians. It’s a good thing DPI hosted its Gainesville awards luncheon along with a Cinco de Mayo feast because it wasn’t a short ceremony. There were several hundred award winners. Going above and beyond normal job duties to serve Florida’s environment, agriculture industry and citizens is part of DPI’s work culture. Working at DPI isn’t just about the job; it’s about making a difference.

From our helpline operators who spend their days answering complex questions from consumers about anything from fruit shipment regulations to hibiscus pests, to our scientists who research impactful diseases, pathogens and organisms to keep the agriculture industry and environment healthy, to our personnel staff and training officers who keep our organization operating at its full potential, DPI employees contribute to Florida’s greater good on a daily basis. DPI is a place where people work to serve people. We’re here to serve you.

Whether you need a plant identified or house plants certified for movement across state lines, or whether you’re a citrus grower concerned with the health of your crop or a beekeeper looking for further training, you can contact DPI and talk to a person who cares about your questions, concerns and needs.

DPI Contact Info:
Website: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/
Physical Address: 1911 SW 34^th St., Gainesville, FL  32608
Toll-free Helpline: 888-397-1517

You can also click on the icons in the right side bar to connect with us through our social media platforms.

The HEAT isn’t the only thing from Miami with the potential to be the next Beast of the East

The HEAT’s performance during this NBA season has attracted attention to the team’s home city of Miami like D-Wade attracted Celtics defenders during the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Miami consistently attracts the attention of DPI, but not for its basketball heroes.

Florida’s subtropical climate and Miami’s status as an international travel hub makes the city and its surrounding areas especially susceptible to invasive plant and apiary pests and diseases. DPI is currently involved with routine trapping programs for Africanized honey bees, Mediterranean fruit flies and other insects. Also, with the redbay ambrosia beetle discovered close to avocado production in Miami-Dade County, laurel wilt surveys are underway there, too. Another pest plaguing the area is Mikania micrantha, an invasive weed found in the Redlands.

Miami might be a metropolitan superpower, but its unique natural resources and green space are especially valuable to the area’s ecosystem and the state and nation’s environmental treasures. You can help keep Miami known as home to the beast of the East because of its basketball, and not because of established invasive species. How can you help? Take a look around DPI’s website to stay informed of important pests and diseases in Florida. If you think you’ve discovered a plant or apiary pest or disease, contact DPI’s helpline at 888-397-1517. DPI works to protect Florida’s environment and agriculture industry from harmful pests and diseases, and ultimately protect you, the consumer. You can help take ownership in the state’s natural resources and leading industry by staying informed.

Before you take off or set sail, make sure you don’t pack a pest!

DPI is working with you to safeguard Florida’s agriculture industry and environment. Travelers often unknowingly transport harmful plant pests and diseases like Mediterranean fruit flies, red palm mites, citrus greening, cycad scale and many others. It is estimated that one exotic plant pest or disease is introduced into Florida every month.

If you enjoy flying or sailing around the state, be a responsible maritime vessel or aviation operator. Remind passengers of the potential risks associated with bringing fruit and vegetables into Florida. Know the rules about the movement of agricultural products by visiting www.freshfromforida.com or calling 888-397-1517. Safeguard unrefrigerated fruits and vegetables by wrapping them in plastic. Secure peels and other waste from fruits and vegetables in tied plastic bags and dispose of them in a closed dumpster, or double-bag them to set out with household trash. Always be on the lookout and report any suspicious plant pest or disease to your county extension office or to DPI at 888-397-1517. Don’t move firewood. Firewood and unprocessed wood products, including handicrafts, can harbor harmful pests and diseases. Also, purchase plants from registered nurseries. Help keep our food supply safe. When you travel, don’t pack a pest!

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Back to Square One

Background: In February, two male Medflies were found in Pompano Beach during routine fruit fly trapping. It only takes two Medflies to trigger an eradication program, which FDACS began after the specimens had been confirmed to be wild Medflies. FDACS and USDA employees have been working in the Pompano Beach are and throughout the state to implement the eradication program since the February finds. Eradication efforts include adding more fruit fly traps in the immediate area and establishing a quarantine area to certify fruits or other host materials moving in and out of the quarantine zone. FDACS is also using the Sterile Insect Technique, which involves using biological control methods to release sterile male Medflies to interrupt the reproduction cycle. Eradication cannot be considered successful until three Medfly life cycles have passed with no additional fly finds. On March 14, DPI reported on this blog that two life cycles had passed, with one more to go until eradication could be considered complete.

On March 24, FDACS reported a third Mediterranean fruit fly found in Pompano Beach. It was an egg-bearing female collected during ongoing Medfly eradication activities in the area. A non-dyed male was found the same day, and another Medfly female was found two days later on March 26. Four additional male Medflies were also found. Eradication program activities will increase with these finds, and FDACS is working to set additional traps and expand the regulated quarantine boundary. The core area immediately around new finds will be treated and fruit will be stripped to remove sources for other wild Medflies that may be present. The public will be notified 24 hours in advance of any treatment or fruit stripping activities.

If you live in the quarantined area, you can help prevent the spread of Medfly by following these guidelines:

-Do not move any fruits and vegetables off of your property.
-Pick up any fallen fruits and vegetables from the yard.
-Double-bag fruits and vegetables in plastic. Securely tie bags and leave them out for household garbage pickup, not yard waste.
-Allow state or federal representatives access to your property for survey, trapping or treatment activities.

For more information about the Medfly program, visit http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/medfly, or call DPI’s toll-free helpline at 352-397-1517.

Numbers don’t lie.

Have you ever looked inside the Florida Agricultural Statistical Directory? If you’ve ever wondered how important agriculture is to Florida, or why government agencies are in place to protect the agriculture industry, you’ll find your answer there. Agriculture contributes almost $100 billion to the state’s economy, and there are a variety of environmental factors that can reduce the industry’s productivity. Divisions like the DPI help protect segments of agriculture, and therefore protect the state’s food supply and economic stability. Just how much does DPI protect? Check out the numbers below.

Total cash receipts for Florida nursery and greenhouse products were almost $2 billion in 2008. Sales for fresh market vegetables reached more than $1.3 billion, with production on 183,100 acres in 2009. During the 2008-2009 season, Florida citrus growers produced 162.4 million boxes of oranges and 21.7 million boxes of grapefruit.  Greenhouse and nursery products generate the most cash receipts of all Florida commodities, with the more well-known citrus coming in second. Floriculture and horticulture products make up a large majority of Florida exports.

From Mediterranean fruit fly eradiation to nursery inspections, DPI protects Florida’s plant and apiary industries from pests and diseases, and therefore protects the state’s economy. For more information, visit http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi.