State agriculture inspectors are on the lookout for a pest that has potential to cause great damage to Arizona’s citrus crops.
The pest is a psyllid bug that carries a citrus greening disease. It has cost Florida billions of dollars in the citrus industry and even though it hasn’t found its way to Arizona, a citrus quarantine has been expanded to Pinal County, Yuma and Nogales.
John Caravetta with the Arizona Department of Agriculture explains why citrus is crucial to the state economy.
“Arizona’s agricultural economy is a $17.1 billion economic engine and citrus is one of those industries, within that whole agricultural complex that is very important to us," Caravetta said. "Not only for employment but also for our production of really high-quality citrus fruits.”
Arizonans also have a way to prevent it from reaching the state.
"We don't have it in Arizona, so we have an opportunity to stay free from it," Caravetta said. "And the best way to do that is buy local. Buy your citrus fruits local, buy your citrus nursery trees that you want to plant it your yard here locally."
Arizona is one of only four states that has the right climate to grow citrus commercially.