Historic San Jose orange orchard threatened by fruit fly

(KRON) — Before San Jose became part of Silicon Valley and a home to tech giants, the region was known for its sprawling orchards of fruit trees.

One of San Jose’s last orchards standing, Giant Orange Orchard, has been growing oranges and other crops for more than a century. Today, there are about 1,500 naval orange trees growing on the farm that are 40 years old.

Fruit farmers Andrew Tower and Amanda Fein-Tower wrote, “Our harvest is a true family affair — from our eldest at 74, to our youngest harvester at just 5.” Giant Orange Orchard harvested its last orange crop for commercial use in 2017. Since then, the orchard donates all of its harvests to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, according to a verified GoFundMe page.

Last spring, nearly 350 volunteers picked over 115,000 pounds of fruit, which reached soup kitchens, shelters, schools, and senior centers through Second Harvest’s network. “Our oranges travel less than 50 miles from orchard to table, embodying the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors,” the page states.

“This year, our harvest is at risk. A fruit fly infestation has led the California Department of Food and Agriculture to impose a quarantine on fruit movement in Santa Clara County,” the Tower family wrote.

Giant Orange Orchard is raising donations to pay for fruit fly eradication treatments to comply with the quarantine’s regulations and donate this year’s harvest. The Tower family said donations will go toward protecting the orange crops.

“Without urgent, specialized treatment, we won’t be able to share our oranges with those who rely on them. With your support, we can continue this legacy of giving and keep fresh, nutritious oranges feeding thousands in our community,” the GoFundMe page states.

Santa Clara County officials said the California Department of Food and Agriculture detected Mediterranean fruit flies in San Jose’s residential neighborhoods. The state imposed a quarantine this October to prohibit the movement of fruit.

Mediterranean fruit flies are destructive agricultural pests that are native to Africa.

“It is considered one of the most damaging agricultural pests in the world. These infestations in Santa Clara County are likely the result of infested produce or plants unknowingly or illegally brought into California,” county officials wrote.