Destructive grape moth invades Napa Valley wine country, spraying worries growers
By Tracie Cone, APWednesday, March 10, 2010
Grape moth invades Napa Valley wine country
FRESNO, Calif. — A voracious moth has prompted an aggressive quarantine across Napa Valley wine country.
Agriculture officials imposed a quarantine Tuesday restricting the transport of equipment after discovering the European grapevine moth in at least 32 sites. They intend to conduct spraying to control and eradicate the pest.
Growers, meanwhile, say they’re worried the spraying could undermine a decade-long effort toward low-impact farming practices in the Napa Valley.
The moth was first detected in the United States last September in an Oakville-area vineyard.
The bug managed to destroy the vineyard’s entire crop at peak harvest time before anyone recognized the new invader.
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