The disease creates brown lesions on citrus leaves and causes fruit to drop early: in the Santa Clara River Valley the disease could be devastating to the area’s large citrus crop, a leading revenue producer historically near or at the top of Ventura County’s $1 billion plus agricultural industry.Although some sample plants from the Piru ranch showed symptoms of citrus canker, further testing came back negative.The cost to eradicate the citrus canker in Florida cost more than $30 million. In addition, more than 3 million commercial and residential trees were destroyed as a safeguard.The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a smuggling investigation into Nagatoshi’s actions.
Piru escapes citrus canker, smuggling investigation continues
August 04, 2004
Santa Paula News
A disease that decimated Florida citrus crops in the 1990s was not found in a Piru orchard according to state Department of Food and Agriculture spokesman, although an investigation into plant smuggling is continuing.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA disease that decimated Florida citrus crops in the 1990s was not found in a Piru orchard according to state Department of Food and Agriculture spokesman, although an investigation into plant smuggling is continuing.The citrus canker scare hit the Santa Clara River Valley in June when authorities bulldozed and burned more than 3,700 citrus trees and seedlings from the orchard just east of Piru after cuttings were seized that tested positive for the devastating disease.Customs officials in San Francisco had discovered the infected cuttings and the Japan-based owner of the 30-acre ranch told authorities that he had grafted other smuggled cuttings onto seedlings in the Piru orchard.The cuttings heading to the Piru ranch of Morimoto Nagatoshi were labeled chocolates when Customs agents discovered them.
