Contra Costa County Municipal Code Ch. 512-2 Apple Maggot Control

The apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella) is a serious apple pest not known to occur in this county. To protect the county's apple industry, it is necessary to restrict movement of hosts and possible carriers into the county and to treat commercial orchards in which the pest is detected.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

The following articles and commodities are declared as hosts and possible carriers of the apple maggot:

(a) Apple fruit of both commercial and noncommercial production.

(b) Apple trees.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

Hosts and possible carriers of the apple maggot are prohibited entry into the county.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

Section 512-2.006 does not apply to the following:

(a) Commercially packed apples produced using conventional pest control practices. "Conventional pest control practices" means treatment with pesticides at label dosages and on a schedule effective against apple maggot;

(b) Commercially packed organic apples (apples produced by growers in compliance with and registered under the California Organic Foods Act of 1990) if the producing orchard was trapped and found negative for apple maggots;

(c) Commercially produced apples entering the county in bulk for packing, juicing, and/or processing under a compliance agreement between the importing company and the county agricultural commissioner;

(d) Subject to inspection by the county agricultural commissioner, apple trees that are free of fruit and bare root or free of fruit and certified by agricultural officials in the area of origin as being treated with a soil drench effective against the apple maggots.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

Compliance agreements shall specify the conditions under which bulk fruit may enter the county and the manner in which fruit and fruit waste shall be handled by the importing company. The importer shall reimburse the county agricultural commissioner for the costs of monitoring compliance with the agreement and inspecting incoming shipments.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

If the apple maggot is detected in a commercial orchard, the orchard shall be treated at the cost of the orchard owner using conventional pest control practices in a manner approved by and under the supervision of the county agricultural commissioner. The owner shall reimburse the county agricultural commissioner for the costs of supervising the treatment.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

If the apple maggot is detected in a commercial orchard and the orchard is not treated in accordance with the provisions of Section 512-2.012, the orchard shall be abated of the apple maggot pest as provided in California Food and Agricultural Code Chapter 6 (Section 5401 et seq.), as the provisions are amended from time to time.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

Fruit from a commercial orchard in which the apple maggot has been detected is prohibited movement from the orchard unless the orchard is treated in accordance with the provisions of Section 512-2.010 or the fruit is moved for processing under written authorization of the county agricultural commissioner.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).

Any person who violates or causes the violation of any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 93-48 § 2).