Back to school and new fruit fly outbreaks
Wednesday 28 January 2026
As school resumes, Riverland families are being reminded that restrictions on moving home-grown fruit and vegetables remain in place and need to be adhered to when planning lunch boxes, particularly with a further two new Queensland fruit fly outbreaks recently declared in the region.
Outbreaks were declared at Murtho (known as Murtho H) last Thursday (22 January) and Holder on Friday (23 January).
For Murtho H, the outbreak trigger was 5 adult fruit flies found within a 1km radius. For Holder, the outbreak trigger was a gravid (egg-bearing) female found in a monitoring trap.
PIRSA Fruit Fly Response Program General Manager Jason Size said community cooperation is essential to regaining fruit fly free status.
“Using home-grown produce in lunchboxes is great, but it’s vital the restrictions are understood to avoid unintentionally spreading fruit fly,” Mr Size said.
“It is extremely important that you do your homework and understand what is safe to move around, and what is a risk. I’m sure you don’t want to be that person who accidentally spreads fruit fly.”
Home-grown produce can move freely within green areas. Produce from green areas can be taken into yellow or red areas but cannot return and must be eaten or disposed of there. Produce from yellow areas can only move to green areas if it has been canned, cooked, dried, frozen, grated or pureed. Produce grown in red outbreak areas must not be moved unless prepared with those approved methods.
“When the community gets on board it makes a huge difference to the eradication effort,” Mr Size said.
“With proven eradication measures in place, and community support, we have seen many of the outbreaks contained."
“As at 23 January 2026, there were 58 outbreak areas of which 36 do not have active red centres."
Residents are asked to pick any unwanted fruit, collect fallen fruit off the ground, check it for signs of fruit fly, and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 to report anything unusual. Do not compost host fruit material. Seal it in 2 plastic bags and dispose of it in the general waste bin.
Learn more about restricted produce.
For more information about fruit fly, visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au or call the 24-Hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
Outbreak end dates
As at Friday 23 January 2026, the end dates for all outbreaks are:
- Riverland: 14 April 2026
- Elizabeth East: 08 April 2026
- Glynde: 31 March 2026
Contact
PIRSA Family and Business (FaB) mentors are available to support Riverland residents through this challenging time. FaB mentors are available for a free, informal, confidential, and independent conversation in person or over the phone.
Riverland and Murraylands FaB mentors include:
- Robyn Cain (0411 633 085)
- John Chase (0419 848 672)
- Brent Fletcher (0439 409 430)
Learn more about FaBs or call the FaB mentors directly.