APHIS Removes Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Quarantine in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, California

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2025-41
October 10, 2025

Subject: APHIS Removes Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Quarantine in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, California

To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

On July 31, 2025, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) removed the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata; Medfly) quarantine in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, designated the Fremont quarantine. This action released 213 square miles including 49 acres of commercial agriculture from quarantine. Release from quarantine occurred after three generations elapsed since the date of the last detection, based on a degree-day model.

APHIS and CDFA established the Fremont Medfly quarantine on September 6, 2024, and expanded it on September 11, October 17, October 23, October 30, November 8, December 5, and December 12, following the detections of additional Medflies. APHIS restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Medfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

APHIS worked cooperatively with CDFA and the Agricultural Commissioners of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, to eradicate this transient Medfly population through various control actions per program protocols.

The removal of this quarantine area is reflected on the APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies website, which contains a description of all current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of this change in the Federal Register.

For additional information you may contact: 

Catherine Marzolf
National Policy Manager 
386-666-9932
catherine.a.marzolf@usda.gov
 

/s/
Matthew A. Rhoads
Acting Deputy Administrator Plant Protection and Quarantine