LOS ANGELES, July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- California's citrus industry is threatened by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny pest that can transmit the world's deadliest citrus disease, Huanglongbing (HLB). Currently, all of Los Angeles County is under quarantine[1] for the psyllid which continues to spread across the state. Along with Bayer CropScience and California Citrus Mutual, City Councilmember Gil Cedillo announced today, July 2 that, "Citrus Matters" to Los Angeles. During the event, commercial citrus growers from the region were recognized for their contributions to the state of California and acknowledged the devastating disease that could destroy the state's citrus industry. The announcement also serves to highlight the role Los Angeles residents must play in protecting California's$2.4 billion commercial citrus industry through the #CitrusMatters initiative.
Matthew Fisher and other California citrus growers are threatened by the spread of a dangerous pest and the disease it carries. For every share of this video and use of the hashtag #CitrusMatters, Bayer CropScience will donate $1, up to $25,000, to California Citrus Mutual to support HLB research and programs.
The Asian citrus psyllid feeds on the leaves and stems of citrus trees and can infect the tree with the bacterium that causes HLB. Photo Credit: CPDPP
Infected trees decline in health, produce inedible fruit and eventually die in as little as five years. Photo credit: CPDPP
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To date, the psyllid has reached 15 counties throughout Southern California[2]; however, HLB has only been recorded in one tree in California[3] – a lemon/pummelo tree found on residential property in the Hacienda Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in 2012. For every Californian who cares about citrus, that tree, which has since been removed and destroyed, serves as a warning that all citrus trees are at risk of being affected, from the trees that decorate their neighborhood to the commercial groves nearby.
The #CitrusMatters initiative from Bayer CropScience and California Citrus Mutual encourages all residents of California and Los Angeles – where there are more citrus trees on residential property than in commercial groves – to take action to help prevent the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid. It is essential that homeowners with citrus trees on their property understand how to protect their trees and know what to do if they suspect trees are infected. If left untreated, the insects can move quickly from one tree to the next, eventually spreading to the commercial groves that cover much of Southern and Central California.
There are a number of ways the Los Angeles community can get involved with the campaign to help prevent the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid and protect California citrus, including:
Spreading the word and increasing awareness about the disease, the Asian citrus psyllid and why they love citrus using the hashtag #CitrusMatters. Through use of the hashtag (now through September 30), Bayer CropScience will contribute $1, up to $25,000, to advance existing and future research to find a solution to HLB in California.
Visiting CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org to access HLB and Asian citrus psyllid resources specific to Los Angeles County.
Monitoring their trees and contacting the California Department of Food and Agriculture Exotic Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899 if they think they've spotted an infestation and having their trees checked.
Becoming familiar with solutions[4] available that can protect against the Asian citrus psyllid in their trees.
The citrus industry has a storied history in Los Angeles. Southern California'sfirst orange grove[5] was planted at San Gabriel Mission in 1804, and the state's very first commercial citrus operation[6] was established in what is now downtown Los Angeles.
"Almost all of us native Los Angelenos have some kind of memory of grabbing a lemon off of the trees in our yards growing up or stepping outside during the spring and taking in the fresh scent of orange blossoms," said Gil Cedillo, city councilmember representing District One, who presented the announcement. "The city of Los Angeles recognizes the contribution citrus adds to California's economy and our residents' lives."
"The Los Angeles area has played a vital role in the industry's history," said Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual. "We're excited to see residents celebrate citrus and rally around our mission to protect it from the spread of HLB."
The #CitrusMatters initiative is part of the ongoing effort by Bayer CropScience to provide citrus growers across the nation with solutions to help combat the Asian citrus psyllid and HLB. To learn more about the #CitrusMatters initiative and how homeowners, commercial citrus growers and citrus lovers alike can help save citrus, visit citrusmatters.us.
Bayer CropScience is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer CropScience representative, or visit Bayer CropScience online at www.bayercropscience.us.
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About Bayer CropScience Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 9,494 million (2014) and is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 23,100 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.
About California Citrus Mutual California Citrus Mutual (CCM) is a citrus producer's trade association whose 2,200 grower members comprise 60 percent of California's 275,000 acre, $2.4 billion citrus industry. The Exeter, California-based organization was founded in 1977 by those who felt the need to unite their fellow growers into a cohesive, powerful force. Throughout the years, CCM has brought to fruition many of the goals of the founding fathers and has developed into a dominant force from within as well as outside the industry. Having attained the privilege to be called the "voice of the citrus grower," CCM remains the vessel which successfully navigates the often rocky waters of the business interest of its membership. For more information on CCM, visit www.cacitrusmutual.com.
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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