The San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office is urging residents to report grape plants purchased at Costco stores in Stockton, Lodi, Manteca and Tracy after inspectors discovered the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter, a pest that threatens California agriculture.
County officials said Tuesday that the insect was found on grape plants sold at Costco locations across Northern California and the Central Valley. The affected plants were supplied by a wholesale nursery in Fresno County.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter is a leafhopper that spreads the bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease, which kills grapevines and can also damage almond, citrus and ornamental plants. Officials said the pest feeds on more than 250 plant species and poses a significant threat to California’s grape industry, vineyards and home gardens.
Residents who purchased grapevines from Costco stores in the Central Valley on or after April 21 are being asked to contact their county agricultural commissioner’s office to help prevent the pest from spreading.
“The glassy-winged sharpshooter poses a significant threat to a wide range of agricultural commodities, making the prevention of further spread critically important,” the agricultural commissioner’s office said in a statement.
Officials said the county is working with Costco Wholesale and state and local partners to identify affected plants and protect agriculture and landscapes. They said the food supply is not affected and that Costco was not responsible for the discovery because the issue originated with the nursery supplier.
The agricultural commissioner’s office advised residents who purchased affected grapevines between April 21 and May 19 to isolate the plants and keep them away from other vegetation. Residents are also being advised not to place the plants in the ground, move them to another location or dispose of them in trash or compost bins.
Officials recommended placing the plants in sealed double trash bags until an inspection can be arranged.
Residents in San Joaquin County can contact the agricultural commissioner’s office at (209) 953-6000 or StocktonAg2@sjgov.org for inspections. Agricultural inspectors will examine the plants and nearby vegetation, and if the pest is found, officials will remove and dispose of the plants safely. Monitoring traps may also be placed on affected properties.
Additional information is available from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Residents urged to report Costco grapevines over pest discovery
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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