Invasive pests discovered on grapevines sold at Northern California stores

An invasive pest found on grapevines sold at some Northern California Costco stores has prompted a public alert, agriculture officials said.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter, “an invasive insect pest that poses a serious threat to California’s vineyards,” was found on the grapevines, the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office said in a Tuesday, May 26 news release.

The pests have been found on 220 grapevines shipped to a Costco in Napa County from Burchell Nursery, Inc., located in Fresno County, the office said.

Shipments also went to Costco stores in Yolo, Solano, Sonoma, Marin and other counties, officials said in a news release. The release did not detail what the other counties are.

Back in 2019, Sacramento County was able to prevent outbreaks of the disease that’s caused by the glassy-winged sharpshooters, according to previous reporting from The Bee.

Napa County Agricultural Commissioner Tracy Cleveland said it is “critical” to track down grapevines that were already sold to consumers.

“I am confident that the community will pull together to help us limit the risk to our local agriculture,” Cleveland said. “Vigilance and prompt reporting are essential.”

Costco is directly contacting customers who bought the 220 plants and is cooperating with local authorities, officials said.

“Costco is not at fault here, and they’ve been an exceptional partner throughout this process,” Marin County Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney said. “They acted quickly, cooperated fully, and helped us reach customers as fast as possible. We’re fortunate to have such a proactive retailer working with us to protect Marin’s agriculture.”

What are glassy-winged sharpshooters?

Glassy-winged sharpshooters are native to the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said.

They were first reported in California in 1994 but probably arrived in the state in the late 1980s.

The insects can carry Pierce’s disease, a bacterial infection that is often fatal to grapevines, according to the U.S.D.A. It also can damage almond, citrus and ornamental plants leading to significant economic and environmental impact.

What should you do?

If you purchased a grapevine, citrus tree, or other fruit tree at an affected Costco or neighboring Costco locations during April or May, you should:

• Keep the plant isolated in its original pot or container.
• Do not plant the grapevine or tree if you have not already done so.
• If possible, place the plant(s) in two secured trash bags, one inside the other, and seal them closed.
• Do not attempt to return, transport, or relocate the plant.
• Do not place the plant in the trash or a compost bin.
• Contact your local agricultural commissioner’s office.