The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled blueberry plants sold by Costco in St. John’s due to potential presence of a plant pest.
Consumers who bought blueberry plants throughout June and July of 2018 from Costco in St. John’s, should return the plants to Costco in their original pot, placed in a double bag. If plants have already been transplanted, the entire plant must be removed, including the root system and the soil that was in the original pot, and placed in a double bag.
According to the release, the plants were shipped without proper certification from Quebec, which is regulated for the presence of blueberry maggot. Blueberry maggot does not occur in Newfoundland and Labrador and may pose a risk to blueberry production if it were to be introduced into the province.
For information regarding alternate disposal and drop-off locations, please call 709-772-4424 between 8 am and 4 pm (Newfoundland Standard Time).
Quick facts
• Blueberry maggot was first detected in Maine and New Hampshire in 1914 and has become a significant pest of blueberries in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and southern areas of Ontario and Quebec.
• As Canada's national plant protection organization, the CFIA regulates the import, export and movement of plants within Canada. The introduction and spread of invasive pests can have negative impacts on Canada's environment and economy.
• Blueberry maggot poses no risk to human health.
