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County investigates Costco shipment of grapevines after samples suggest invasive pest; emergency tracing and trapping underway
Summary
Mendocino County and state entomologists are tracing a Costco shipment of thousands of nursery plants from a Fresno supplier after samples indicated likely glassy‑winged sharpshooter (GWSS); staff increased trapping, located more than a dozen trace‑forward plants, and urged the public to report and surrender suspect plants.
County agriculture and pest‑management staff told supervisors on June 2 that a nursery in Fresno (Burrell’s) shipped roughly 13,100 plants that reached non‑infested counties through Costco beginning April 21; inspections in Sonoma County detected multiple life stages consistent with the glassy‑winged sharpshooter (GWSS), a vector of Pierce disease that can devastate grapevines.
Mendocino County staff said initial tracing located about 14–15 purchaser trace‑forward locations in the county. County and state entomologists are analyzing samples, increasing trap density near vineyards and residential interfaces, and treating any infested plants found. Costco has communicated with members and issued at least one customer notice; staff said Costco has been cooperative but has not provided purchaser addresses to county or state agricultural departments, complicating trace‑forwards. The county is tracking hours and costs and said it may seek emergency funds or explore civil action against the nursery if non‑compliance is confirmed.
Supervisor Williams asked whether cost recovery is possible and whether the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has emergency funding; staff said they are tracking costs and hope for state emergency support but are also looking at civil remedies because the nursery had a prior compliance agreement.
What happens next: County staff will continue increased trapping and public outreach and will inform the board if additional live life stages are confirmed. Vineyard owners and residents who purchased plants from Costco during the April‑May window were urged to inspect and allow county staff to remove suspect plants.
Representative quote: "This is a real emergency — we're trying very hard with our limited resources to be everywhere," the agricultural commissioner said.
Note: The county uses the Teeter and other mechanisms for tax distribution; this plant incident is separate and concerns agricultural quarantine and biosecurity.
