Santa Clara County agricultural officials began knocking on doors the week of July 13 to collect more than 1,100 recalled grapevine plants sold at Costco stores this spring. The plants may carry the glassy-winged sharpshooter, an invasive insect that spreads a vine-killing disease with no known cure.
Of the more than 1,300 grapevine plants Costco sold to county customers in April and May, roughly 1,180 remain unaccounted for, according to the county's Division of Agriculture. Officials have recovered only about 120 so far.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter transmits Pierce's disease, caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which clogs a grapevine's water-conducting vessels and kills it. The disease also threatens citrus, stone fruits, almonds, oleander, and shade trees common in Palo Alto neighborhoods, including oaks, elms, maples, and sycamores.
"By allowing us to safely collect and dispose of the plants, you're helping protect local vineyards, farmers, backyard gardens, and the overall health of our local agricultural economy," said Priscilla Yeaney, agricultural commissioner for the County of Santa Clara.
If Pierce's disease becomes established in the county, local fruit and wine production could collapse, the county warned. Businesses could also be barred from shipping plants to other parts of California.
Background
The University of California documented Pierce's disease destroying over 1,000 acres of northern California grapevines between 1994 and 2000, causing $30 million in damages, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Unlike the native blue-green sharpshooter, the glassy-winged sharpshooter is not confined to areas near creeks and rivers, making it a more mobile threat in residential neighborhoods.
What residents should do
County staff will leave a door hanger at each affected household with collection supplies and a scheduled pickup date. Residents who purchased the recalled plants should:
- Remove any stakes from the grapevine
- Place the plant in the provided bag and double-bag it
- Tie the bag securely and attach the notice
- Set the bagged plant outside the front door or gate (not the curb) before 9 a.m. on the scheduled pickup date
Do not relocate, compost, or throw away the plants on your own. Improper disposal could spread the pest.
Individual pickup dates will be communicated through the door hangers left by county staff.
Contact and refunds
Residents who no longer have their plants should call the Division of Agriculture at (408) 918-4662 or [email protected]. Collection is free. For refunds, contact your local Costco directly.
More information is available at cepascc.org/gwss-costco.
