In an effort to slow citrus greening disease, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently expanded quarantine areas in South Texas to cover Hidalgo and Cameron counties.
Prior to the most recent expansion, about half of the state’s commercial groves were in quarantined areas. According to the Austin American Statesman, only a small amount of commercial citrus grown in Willacy County remains outside the current quarantine zone.
Infected trees have been identified at 33 residential sites, and only seven groves have been confirmed to have infected trees. But growers and authorities are being proactive and expanding quarantine areas to prevent widespread disease in the Lone Star State.