A fatal plant disease – Huanglongbing – has been found in California and without support from California residents it could be a death sentence to California's backyard and commercial citrus trees.

While Huanglongbing (HLB) is not harmful to humans, there is no cure and once a citrus tree is infected it will die. The disease has decimated Florida citrus, and now that HLB is here, California's beloved citrus trees are also at risk.

The disease is spread by an insect called the Asian citrus psyllid, which can be found throughout California – the number one fresh citrus fruit producing state in the nation. By working together, we can all save our citrus trees.

California homeowners – 60 percent of whom own citrus trees – play an important role in protecting citrus in our state and are being asked to protect their backyard trees by searching for signs of the pest and disease.

Please help us encourage California residents to join this fight by airing this PSA spot and alerting them to report any suspicious pests or signs of HLB to the California Department of Food and Agriculture hotline: 800-491-1899. For more information, visit CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org.

Length: 30
Language: English
End Date: Never
Sponsors: California Department of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Program
Target Audience: All
Issue Area: Family & Community