Authorities are urging residents who recently purchased grapevines from Costco stores in Monterey, Santa Cruz or Santa Clara counties to contact the San Benito County Agriculture Department as part of a statewide effort to stop the spread of a destructive invasive insect.
Department staff announced the request on June 3, following an emergency response coordinated by the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association to contain the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
The invasive insect can spread Pierce’s disease, a bacterial infection that threatens California vineyards and other agricultural crops, says a press release from the county…