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Costco grapevine plants cause Santa Clara officials to visit homes
New York Post • • business
Key Points:
- Santa Clara County agricultural officials are conducting door-to-door visits to locate and remove about 1,300 grapevine and desert willow plants sold at Costco that may carry the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter pest.
- The pest spreads Pierce’s disease, a deadly bacterial infection that kills grapevines by blocking their water-conducting systems, threatening California’s wine industry.
- The California Department of Food and Agriculture has urged buyers of these plants from Costco to report them for inspection and removal, resulting in the recovery of around 200 plants so far.
- This targeted effort focuses on South County, a key region for grape and wine production, aiming to protect local growers from the spread of the disease.
- Residents who purchased these plants between April and early July 2026 are asked to contact their County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office immediately to help prevent further damage.
