Fruit fly - protecting our fruit

Mildura is in the middle of an area called the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone, an area designed to protect Australia's horticultural areas from this pest.

You can help to keep fruit fly out of major fruit growing regions by ensuring that you do not bring fresh fruit or vegetables into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone.

Don't be fooled - your fruit or vegetables may look perfect, but it could have eggs or maggots hidden within.

It's your responsibility
It is illegal to carry fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables into the zone. If you have fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables with you, eat them or dispose of them in the roadside bins provided before you enter the zone. The only way fruit fly can be brought into a Fruit Fly Free area is by travellers carrying fresh fruit or vegetables, and just one infested fruit or vegetable can cause a fruit fly outbreak.

The penalty

Random roadblocks operate within the zone. Fines from $200 up to a maximum of $20,000 can be imposed for bringing prohibited fruit or vegetables into the area.

About the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone

There are large fruit fly signs along the highways leading into the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone featuring Fang the fruit fly warning travellers to dispose of or eat any fresh fruit they have. Visitors from Adelaide will notice the signs along the Sturt Highway after Daveyston.

The cost of fruit fly outbreaks

Fruit flies are the world's worst pest. In Australia last year the cost to fruit growers was more than $100 million in lost income and eradication measures, disrupting valuable trade to interstate and overseas markets.