Eradicate the Plum Pox Virus

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Agriculture Secretary George Greig announced today, Pennsylvania's effort to eradicate the Plum Pox Virus from fruit-bearing trees continues to be a success.

In Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties, a rigorous survey conducted last summer tested 61,056 leaf samples. State and federal agriculture department crews began collecting orchard samples last May and finished at the end of October.

Greig - "Since Plum Pox Virus was first detected more than a decade ago, the department has been committed to eradicating the disease and minimizing its impact on growers' livelihoods and the state's economy, the results of last year's surveys show the state continues to be free of Plum Pox, and we commend the survey crews for their hard work and thank the growers for their cooperation."

After three years of negative test results, Pennsylvania was declared free of Plum Pox Virus in October 2009. The latest survey is part of the required monitoring during the recovery phase. Another full survey will be conducted this year and monitoring will continue into 2013.