July 21, 2008

Bugs bug Brown

What is it with Jerry Brown and fruit flies?

Back in the last years of his gubernatorial reign, Brown was plagued by the invasion of California by Mediterranean fruit flies, and a bitter controversy over his administration's decision to spray them with the insecticide Malathion.

Nowadays, the Mad Prince-turned-attorney general apparently has Oriental fruit flies on his mind. At least that's the subject of a press release from his office today.

Headlined "Brown Sues Importer For Smuggling Unmarked and Untreated Mangos," the missive reports that a New Jersey-based organization called Bombino Express Worldwide allegedly failed to treat mangoes and yams imported from India into California.

The untreated and unlabeled mangoes were discovered by a parcel inspection dog named C.C., who works for the San Bernardino County Agricultural Commissioner's office.

I am not making this up.

Anyway, Brown and the state Food and Ag Dept. are suing Bombino for 167 violations of California's unfair competition laws, which could cost Bombino up to $1.67 million in penalties.

That's a lot of mangoes. Or fruit flies.

Posted by swiegand on July 21, 2008 1:58 PM