Mexico’s agriculture service has announced it is monitoring a worm outbreak across thousands of hectares of avocado-growing land across six municipalities, website Elgolfo.info reported.

The country's State of Mexico has witnessed infestations of screwworms over 1,100 hectares of land since 2010, the story reported.

Germán Mercado from the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food (SAGARPA) told a press conference around 3,300 hectares were under observation for the pest, the story reported.

"We can say the situation in the State of Mexico is under control and without danger, but there are always these types of outbreaks. We are working on it," he was quoted as saying.

He said the areas of Villa de Allende and Coatepec Harinas were declared pest-free zones, but the worm that affects part of the 26,000 metric tons (MT) prevents the state from exporting to the U.S.

Photo: USDA

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com