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0 <br />0 <br />C: <br />If a long-term or widespread medfly infestation was <br />to occur, Florida growers would not be permitted to <br />ship numerous fruit and vegetable crops to many <br />foreign and domestic markets. The movement of <br />fruits and vegetables, even within the state, would <br />be disrupted which could lead to higher prices in the <br />supermarket. Costly post-harvest treatment of fruits <br />and vegetables to meet quarantine restrictions of <br />domestic and foreign markets would also be required. <br />If the medfly is not eradicated in Florida, on-going <br />pesticide treatments by homeowners and commercial <br />growers will be necessary. <br />Adult medflies are up to 1/4" long, black with yellow <br />abdomens, and have yellow marks on their thoraxes. <br />Their wings are banded with yellow. The female <br />Medfly damages produce by laying eggs in the host <br />fruit or vegetable. The resulting larvae feed on the <br />pulp, rendering the produce unfit for human <br />consumption. In addition to citrus, medflies will feed <br />on hundreds of other commercial backyard fruit and <br />vegetable crops. <br />Because medflies are not strong fliers, the pest is <br />spread by the transport of larval -infested fruit. The <br />major threats come from travelers, the U.S. mail, and <br />commercial fruit smugglers. Several steps have been <br />taken to prevent new infestations. State and federal <br />officials are working with postal authorities to <br />develop ways to inspect packages suspected of <br />carrying infested fruit. In addition, public education <br />eYrorts carrying the message, "Don't Spread Med" <br />are being expanded (Florida Department of <br />Agriculture and Consumer Services). <br />3) Sugarcane Pests <br />Changes in sugarcane agriculture, including new <br />disease and insect pests, have seriously impacted the <br />quality of cane and juice delivered to the mill for <br />processing. These changing developments affect the <br />level of sucrose, purity, fiber, and color of cane <br />resulting in a loss of sugar and decrease in the <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 21