http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=383090
Asian citrus pest found at Pharr bridge
Friday, November 27, 2009 at 8:44 p.m.
An Asian pest with a large appetite for citrus crops was found in spice shipment at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers told Action 4 News that they refused at 12,348-pound shipment of coriander after finding a live Asian Citrus Psyllid.
The bug is known to cause citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing.
The discovery took place on Wednesday and a CBP agricultural specialist was carefully looking through the shipment.
CBP officials told Action 4 News that coriander shipment was sent back to Mexico.
The Rio Grande Valley has a large citrus industry.
Action 4 News has previoulsy reported that the bug could threaten the Valleys citrus crop if it were able to establish itself here.
Customs officials assured Action 4 News that they will continue to be vigilant in looking for the Asian Citrus Psyllid and other pests.
This interception underscores CBPs commitment to preventing citrus greening from gaining a stronger foothold in the U.S. and having an adverse effect on the American citrus industry, said Hidalgo/Pharr Port Director Hector Mancha.
