East County News Service

County News Service contributed to this report

Photo: Asian citrus psyllids, which can carry HLB, a disease deadly to citrus trees.

February 8, 2023 (Rancho Bernardo) -- The California Department of Food and Agriculture has declared a new citrus quarantine in a 95 square-mile area of Rancho Bernardo after detecting a potentially threatening citrus tree disease during routine inspections.

The bacterial disease, known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a major threat to San Diego’s $115 million annual citrus crop. Trees infected with HLB can produce mishappen, bitter fruit and the disease can eventually kill citrus trees such as orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit trees.