Fruit Fly Queensland fruit fly (QFF)
The Greater Shepparton region is a Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) free zone. From time to time outbreaks have been declared at Shepparton and a number of other towns in the Goulburn Valley - which means that fruit harbouring the fruit fly has been bought into the exclusion zone.
The Goulburn Valley is world-renowned for its fruit production and the local community needs your support to keep this area free of fruit fly. During an outbreak there should be no movement of uncertified host fruit in or out of the outbreak suspension area.
A QFF outbreak means that host fruit from local fruit-growing areas must be certified and treated prior to leaving the suspension area, which results in extra expense for the grower. Fruit fly can also make home-grown fruit inedible. Home-grown fruit should not be moved from the property unless it has been cooked.
Visitors to the area need to be familiar with the Queensland fruit fly management zones in Victoria.
Movement of QFF host fruit into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) is prohibited. Signs on major roads indicate when you are entering the FFEZ, and that you must dispose of any host fruit in roadside quarantine bins. Visitors to the FFEZ cannot use receipts or tax invoices to authorise the entry of host fruit into the zone.
Queensland fruit fly is one of the world's worst horticultural pests. It attacks a wide range of host plants, lowering production and making fruit inedible, with severe consequences for local and international trade.
Host list for Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly
Visitors traveling through the area are unlikely to see the adult fruit fly. Fruit infested with fruit fly eggs or maggots may appear to be in good condition on the outside, so the infestation may not be discovered until too late.
For further information about QFF, visit the Department of Primary Industries website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/psb or visit Pest Free Area for a Greater Sunraysia
Please click here to see a community service announcement from celebrity chef Stefano di Pieri.
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