Insects That Threaten Food Supply Found At Port
POSTED: 3:07 pm PDT July 10,
2009
SAN DIEGO -- Federal agriculture experts working at the Port of San Diego in June captured 232 crop pests, including a dozen insects deemed major threats to the U.S. food supply, authorities reported Friday.The number of destructive bugs intercepted at the port over the 30-day period was substantially higher than in 2008 and 2007, when 94 and 117 were nabbed, respectively, according to Customs and Border Protection public affairs.The USDA classifies the worst pests as "actionable." Such insects have the potential to significantly harm U.S. crops because they are nonexistent or scarce in this country.
By law, the products in which the pests came into the country were sent back to their countries of origin, fumigated or destroyed, CBP officials said.Produce entering the United States through the Port of San Diego mostly arrives from Central American nations, including Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras.
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