Solutions sought for Adelaide fruit fly outbreak

SA Produce Market marketing manager Penny Reidy said the biggest challenge was finding post-harvest treatment facilities big enough to cope with the variety of products grown on the Northern Adelaide Plains, including tomatoes, capsicums and cucumbers.

"As we are still waiting on the $50-million biosecurity precinct to be built here at the Produce Market, we currently don't have a facility of the correct size in SA," she said.

"There are some interstate, but we are working with the government to come up with solutions to increase the capacity here in the short-term."

Ms Reidy said they were also working "very closely" with government to ensure growers were being compliant, following the outbreak of six Qflies in Salisbury North on Tuesday last week.

"In SA, we have enjoyed a pest-free status for many years, as opposed to the eastern states where you have to treat crops pre-harvest - an ongoing cost we are trying to avoid," she said.

"As an industry, we understand there will be some pain for our growers in the short-term, but we need to manage this right - and get our pest-free status back - because if it spreads to other Adelaide regions, it will be even more devastating for the industry."

NAP grower and fellow SA Produce Markets director Andrew Vorrasi agreed, saying the "short term pain was worth the long-term gain".

"We don't want to be in a situation where this outbreak is opened up to the rest of the state and we have to deal with this forever," he said.

"SA are the envy of mainland states with our pest-free status - eradication and treatment costs for growers in other states adds another layer to their cost structure, which is not always recoverable.

"Plus they are forever using chemicals to control these flies. We need to avoid that at all costs."

Mr Vorassi's farm at Direk is in the 'controlled movement' yellow zone.

He said following the outbreak announcement and recent heatwave, they decided to forgo the rest of their tomato harvest (about 20-25pc).

"We realise there will be financial losses ... but for the benefit of our area, and the state, there's more value in fruit fly eradication," he said.

On Thursday, PIRSA confirmed six male Qflies were detected in monitoring traps in Salisbury North, while an additional male fly was detected in the red outbreak area.

"While the origin of these fruit flies is not known, they may have come from states where Qfly is established, or areas currently affected by outbreaks," the statement said.

"PIRSA will continue to work with all parties affected during the Salisbury North outbreak response to work through any issues that arise."

If no further flies or larvae are detected, PIRSA anticipates the Salisbury North quarantine to end on May 27.

Last week, PIRSA Plant and Invasive Species Biosecurity director Nick Secomb urged residents in the affected area to help dispose of any backyard fruit "to help break the fruit fly life cycle".

"Anyone moving fruit can potentially spread this pest, so it is critical that people within the 1.5km Outbreak Area follow our advice and do not move any fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables from their properties - including giving it away to family, neighbours and selling it online," he said.

"It's important to make sure your garden is tidy, pick up any fallen fruit off the ground and remove any unwanted fruit from your trees and place it in your green bin.

"Now is the time to check any fruit on your trees - including stone fruit - for bruising or maggots, and report anything unusual to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010."

The previous metropolitan fruit fly outbreak began in 2020.