Growers of apricots for processing prune their trees differently, so they cannot sell their apricots on the fresh market. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has announced strict regulations on movement of oak and other plants known to be susceptible to Sudden Oak Death. The fungal disease has infested seven coastal counties, and the regulations are an effort to halt the spread. Researchers say that in some wooded areas of the infected counties 80 percent of the trees are dead. Crimson tide Thousands of tons of cherries have been shipped from Kern and Tulare counties to packing houses in San Joaquin County without a single glassy-winged sharpshooter being found.
Inspectors check loads at both ends and thus far have found nothing.
Researchers said the insect would not move on cherry fruit. Officials credit the eradication program in the two infested counties along with the inspections at both ends of the journey for the safe fruit movement. The U.S. International Trade commission has ruled that there is a reasonable indication American timber interests have been harmed by Canadian government subsidies. About a third of the soft wood used in the U.S. comes from Canada. That's up from 20 percent five years ago.