Santa Clara County Hunts 1,100 Recalled Grapevines as Pest Threatens $400 Million Farm Sector
Updated
Updated · The Mercury News · Jul 13
Santa Clara County Hunts 1,100 Recalled Grapevines as Pest Threatens $400 Million Farm Sector
3 articles · Updated · The Mercury News · Jul 13
Summary
More than 1,100 recalled grapevines sold in Santa Clara County remain unaccounted for, prompting county workers to go door-to-door in what officials called an unprecedented retrieval effort.
Costco sold the vines in Northern California between April 21 and May 21, and inspectors found glassy-winged sharpshooters in a batch; the insect can spread Pierce’s disease, which can kill grapevines.
County staff are tracing buyers with Costco, asking residents to double-bag vines for free pickup and warning that moving, composting or trashing them could spread the pest and disease.
Santa Clara County has about 50 wineries, and officials said an established outbreak could collapse local wine production and endanger the region’s broader $400 million agricultural industry.
State and county agencies are now investigating how the infested vines were distributed, while local growers say the episode is serious but still controllable if most plants are recovered quickly.
Beyond grapes, this pest threatens almonds and citrus. Is a silent invasion already underway in California’s other major crops?
A nursery's error unleashed a plague on vines. Are California's agricultural safeguards strong enough to prevent the next crisis?
High-tech tracking could have stopped this plague. Why does California's agriculture industry still rely on door-to-door searches?
Santa Clara County’s 1,100-Plant Grapevine Recall: How a Tiny Insect Threatens California’s Wine Industry
Overview
In July 2026, Santa Clara County faced an unprecedented agricultural crisis when over 1,100 grapevine plants sold at Costco were found to be potentially infested with the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a dangerous invasive insect. To prevent the spread of Pierce's disease—a fatal threat to grapevines and other crops—officials launched a massive door-to-door recall operation, tracking and removing plants from homes. The urgency comes from the insect’s ability to transmit this devastating disease, which has previously destroyed hundreds of acres of vineyards. This crisis highlights the ongoing risks to California’s agriculture and the need for strong prevention measures.