The South Australian Government is urging interstate travellers to play their part in the battle against fruit fly this long weekend and not bring fruit and vegetables into the state.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone said the Marshall Liberal Government has a zero-tolerance approach at the border to ensure South Australia remains fruit fly free.
"Mad March is in full swing and with an influx of visitors expected to attend Fringe events and the Adelaide Cup I am reminding interstate travellers to leave fruit and vegetables at home," said Minister Whetstone.
"Any travellers caught with possible fruit fly host material at the border face a $375 fine.
"We make no apologies for the zero-tolerance approach which is in place to protect local growers and our $1.3 billion fruit fly vulnerable horticulture industry.
"If you're coming to South Australia for the long weekend remember there are bins and signs in the lead up to the South Australian border, so heed the warnings and place your fruit in the quarantine bins that are provided.
"There are zero excuses for ignoring the signs – do the right thing and save yourself a hit to the hip pocket.
"If returning home to the eastern states via the Riverland you cannot take fresh fruit and fruiting vegetables with you in the car unless they are accompanied with an itemised receipt proving it was purchased from a South Australian shop.
"It only takes one piece of infested fruit brought into South Australia from interstate to cause widespread devastation to our horticulture industries.
"We take quarantine very seriously in South Australia."
Every year the Marshall Liberal Government spends about $5 million keeping fruit fly and other plant pests out of South Australia, through a range of prevention, detection and eradication measures.
View more information, including bin locations and our food checker, at pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly
