South Bay officials seek public help in ridding pests that they say could result in ‘collapse’ of local wine production

Santa Clara County officials are going door-to-door to collect thousands of grape plants potentially harboring a pest that could “collapse” local wine production, put local agriculture at risk and threaten nearby wine regions.

“This is very urgent … We’ve never mounted an operation to this extent,” said John Sorfleet, Deputy Agricultural Commissioner for Santa Clara County. “We intend to collect every plant … as part of this recall.”

Grapevine plants purchased from Costco stores in Northern California in April and May have been recalled after they were found to potentially host an invasive pest, the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The insect can spread Pierce’s disease, which is fatal to grapevines, from farm to farm.

Over 1,300 plants were sold to customers in Santa Clara County, and over 1,100 are still unaccounted for, according to the county.

Wineries provide a multi-million dollar industry in the county, according to the most recent Santa Clara County crop report, and support a budding agritourism industry, especially in its more rural regions such as Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy, with around 50 wineries registered in the local region.

According to a county statement, local wine production could “collapse” if Pierce’s disease became established in the county. Additionally the disease can infect and harm other plants, putting the region’s $400 million dollar agricultural industry and long legacy as The Valley of Heart’s Delight at risk. Uncontrolled spread of the pest and the disease could also put nearby wine regions at risk, said Sorfleet, including the Napa and Sonoma regions famous for their wineries.

For George Guglielmo, winemaker at the century-old Morgan Hill Guglielmo winery, the news is worth caution, but not worry. “I think we’re going to be on top of this … with precautionary steps we’ll keep it under control,” said Guglielmo. Even so, he expressed concern that the infected plants were able to make it to the point that they were sold at stores. “It’s amazing that this insect got to the point that it was distributed.”

The state and several counties are collaborating on investigating the origins of the infested batch of vines and how they were able to be distributed, according to Sorfleet.

To prevent the worst-case scenario, county staff will be delivering collection instructions, zip ties and large plastic bags to households which purchased the vines. Residents are asked to double bag vines and stakes, and place them at their door or gate for pick up by the county. Relocating, composting or throwing away the vines could result in the spread of the disease. Residents who purchased plants but no longer have them are asked to contact the Division of Agriculture at [email protected] or (408) 918-4662.

“Protecting Santa Clara County’s agriculture requires partnership with our community,” said Priscilla Yeaney, agricultural commissioner for the County of Santa Clara in a statement. “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.”

The scale of the response is unprecedented in the county, given the number of vines that were purchased and the short window in which they were distributed in the county. Even though, Sorfleet said he was “cautiously optimistic” that the county could limit the spread with the cooperation of those who purchased the vines.

Pick up is provided free of charge by the county. Customers can contact Costco for refunds if they purchased the vines, said Sorfleet. Those who suspect they bought infested vines outside of Santa Clara County can call their local agricultural commissioner for help in properly disposing of the vines. More information on the recall and instructions for those who purchased the vines is available at the ag.santaclaracounty.gov.