Sacramento County agricultural officials are warning residents who recently purchased grapevine plants from Costco stores to inspect them immediately after invasive insects capable of devastating California vineyards were discovered on shipments sent throughout the region.
The Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office issued an urgent public alert this week after inspectors discovered multiple life stages of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, an invasive insect known for spreading Pierce’s Disease, on grapevine shipments delivered from a Fresno County nursery to Costco locations in Sacramento County and several other Northern California counties.
According to county officials, grapevines shipped from Burchell Nursery Inc. in Fresno County were distributed to Costco stores between April 21 and May 21. Agricultural inspectors have already destroyed approximately 160 grapevines delivered to Sacramento-area Costco locations after detecting the invasive pest, but officials say hundreds more plants may already be in the possession of customers.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter poses a major threat to California agriculture because it spreads Pierce’s Disease, a bacterial infection that can kill grapevines and damage a variety of other plants, including citrus, almonds and ornamental landscaping. Officials say the insect has the potential to cause serious economic impacts if it becomes established in Northern California vineyards and agricultural areas.
Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner Chrisandra Flores said the county has worked aggressively for years to prevent the pest from becoming established locally and is now asking the public to help contain the threat.
Costco is reportedly cooperating with county and state agricultural officials and has begun directly contacting customers who purchased the affected plants during the identified timeframe. Officials emphasized that Costco itself is not considered responsible for the infestation and has assisted investigators during the response effort.
Residents who purchased grapevines or other Burchell Nursery plants from Costco are being asked not to plant, move, transport or throw away the plants. Instead, officials recommend isolating the plants in their original containers and, if possible, sealing them inside double trash bags while awaiting inspection guidance. Customers are also urged not to place the plants in compost bins or regular garbage containers.
Anyone who believes they may have purchased one of the affected plants is asked to contact the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office immediately at 916-875-6603 or by email at agcomm@saccounty.gov. County officials say agricultural inspectors can respond to properties to examine plants and place monitoring traps if necessary.
The warning extends beyond Sacramento County, with officials in Napa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano, Yolo, Yuba and several other counties also issuing alerts after detecting the pest on similar shipments. Authorities across Northern California are now working together to prevent the insect from spreading into vineyards and residential landscapes.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter, native to the southeastern United States and Mexico, first became a major concern in California during the 1990s after being introduced through agricultural and ornamental plant shipments. Experts say the insect feeds on a wide variety of plants and spreads harmful bacteria while feeding on plant fluids.
For Folsom-area residents who enjoy backyard gardening or home grape production, officials say the warning serves as an important reminder to carefully monitor newly purchased plants and cooperate with agricultural inspectors as containment efforts continue across the region.
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