Friday, November 27, 2009 at 8:44 p.m.
Read more: Local, Agriculture, Asian Citrus Psyllid, Huanglongbing, Citrus Greening Disease, Citrus, Coriander, Pharr Reynosa International Bridge, Customs and Border Rotection, Customs, Cbp, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Pharr, Hidalgo County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Mexico
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 Valley’s 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 CBP’s 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.
