FALLBROOK, Calif. -- Farmers in Fallbrook are now dealing with an infestation of the Mediterranean fruit fly, 10News reported.

San Diego County and state agricultural officials are now putting on a full-court press to eradicate the Medfly, starting with the dropping of hundreds of thousands of sterile male fruit flies into the affected areas.

The male flies mate with females, but produce no offspring. "They mate only once, and this will knock the population out," said David Kellum of the San Diego County Department of Agriculture. Kellum said the method has been used for the past 30 years and it's worked every time.

Jean Berk and her husband, Sid, own a 60-acre farm in Fallbrook where they grow oranges, avocados and persimmons. The Berks went through an infestation of the Mexican fruit fly five years ago, but when Jean Berk heard about the Medfly infestation, she told 10News, "I thought, 'I'm glad most of my oranges are sold.'" But through infestations, cold snaps and heat waves, the Berks continue to roll with the punches. Jean Berk said it's just the nature of farming.

County officials said millions of dollars are being spent to eradicate the Medfly infestation, but insist it is money well spent. Kellum said if the infestation were to get out control it could cost the state billions of dollars and would lead to much higher produce prices at grocery stores.