A GRIFFITH woman says there is an ongoing fruit fly epidemic and little is being done to combat the problem.
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Fran Pietroboni has mounting concerns over the future of Griffith’s fruit industry and feels the State Government, the Department of Agriculture and local councils have done little to eradicate fruit fly.
“I am passionate and I want Griffith to succeed but if nobody does anything about the fruit fly epidemic then what is the future of Griffith," Mrs Pietroboni said.
“We should be proud of our fruit industry but it has been ruined by fruit fly.”
Mrs Pietroboni said a lack of advertising and information in recent years may have contributed to the issue.
“Fruit fly has always been an issue but it was always controlled and in the past few years it has become an epidemic,” she said.
“There used to be fruit-disposal bins on the side of the road...and there were inspectors that would fine you if you were caught bringing fruit back into area but all that has changed.”
The Riverina Local Land service (LLS) said the Pest Free Area was deregulated in 2012 and due to insufficient funding the bins were removed.
Mrs Pietroboni said adding to the problem is the amount of fruit being left to rot and the Department of Agriculture is no longer spraying or baiting trees.
“I know I am doing the best I can to control the fruit fly in my own back yard but not all people know what to do and I just hope people aren’t leaving their fruit to rot,” she said.
“People need to be advised and reminded, but who is taking responsibility and reminding residents what they need to do with their fruit.”
Mrs Pietroboni said residents should put infested fruit in a bucket with a lid and then empty it into a sealed plastic bag before throwing it in the bin.
She it shouldn’t just be left to individuals to combat fruit fly in their own backyard and called for better food security in the Riverina.
“We need the Department of Agriculture and council to come on board because residents can’t fix the problem themselves,” she said.
The LLS said managing fruit fly is a shared responsibility and the onus is on the grower to manage and control fruit fly in their own property.
