Restricting Fruit Intake in SA
It is recommended that older children, teens and adults should aim to have at least 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables or legumes each day. So, what happens when there is a fruit fly outbreak where especially school children need to be fruit fly safe in order to protect our states crops and farmers livelihood?
Fruit Fly Out break
South Australia remains the only Australian mainland state that is fruit fly free however late December 2020 this was compromised with the identification of fruit fly therefore strict restrictions are now in place to protect our state helping keep SA Great.
Restrictions now in place
Restrictions will be in place until at least 17th December 2021 and the responsibility are in everyone’s hand to educate themselves on the do’s and don’ts when it comes to moving around the state with fruit & vegetables.
Fruit flies have good taste
What fruit and vegetables do fruit flies like? The list is long but for starters they have a fond attraction to:
- Apples
- Apricots
- Avocadoes
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Capsicum
- Cherries
- Chilli
- Dates
- Eggplant
- Figs
- Grapes
- Jackfruit
- Kiwi Fruit
- Lemons
- Mango
- Nashi pears
- Oranges
- PawPaw
- Peaches
- Quince
- Raspberries
- Tomatoes
To view the full list visit here
Now what is there left to eat? Plenty. Many other fruit and vegetables are not affected by the restrictions, they include:
Fruit
- Honeydew
- Rockmelon
- Watermelon
- Pineapple
Vegetables
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Kale
- Leafy and Asian greens
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Mushroom
- Onion
- Parsnip
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Pea and snowpeas
- Spinach
- Squash
- Zucchini
Be Prepared
All fruit and vegetables are safe from fruit fly if they are prepared in the following ways:
- Canned
- Cooked
- Fried
- Frozen
- Grated
- Packaged or processed
- Pureed
Cut, sliced or mashed fruit and vegetables listed above are still a risk for fruit fly and restrictions apply on moving them around.
Time to think outside the fruit & vegetable box
In short, the common fruits you cannot pack into your work or lunchbox include:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Kiwi fruit
- Apricots
- Pears
- Avocado
- Plums
- Peaches
- Peacharines
- Raspberries
- Tomato
- Capsicum
- Cherries
The flip side – What you can pack instead. Fresh alternatives include:
- Pineapple
- Melons (watermelon, rockmelon, and honeydew),
- Cucumber
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Mushrooms
- Asparagus
Other options include cooked fruit, processed fruit (such as fruit straps), fruit puree, canned fruit or frozen fruit.
Useful Resources
We encourage you to read up about the restrictions in SA for both residents and non- residents alike; if you are passing through this beautiful state be sure to adhere to the border restrictions and eat or dispose of all fruits & vegetables prior to crossing the border.
Are you in the danger zone?
Check if you are in a metropolitan Adelaide fruit fly outbreak or suspension area here.
Check if you are in a Riverland fruit fly outbreak or suspension area here.
An opportunity to be plant diverse
Eating outside the planter’s box is an opportunity to excel health and wellbeing by introducing gut bacteria to new and diverse groups of plant matter.
It’s often seen as the easy option to pack a banana, apple or orange into a lunch box especially as they come in their own packaging however why not try the below ideas for further plant diversity:
Safe fruit ideas
- Cut fresh pineapple into chunks
- Melon balls; watermelon, honeydew and rockmelon
- Freeze fruit – try grapes, berries or mango for a refreshing snack
- Cooked or stewed fruit with coconut yoghurt
- Canned fruit in natural juice or water
- Dried fruits (keep these serves small, no more than 30g)
Vegetables
Add these vegetables to make a crisp and fresh salad:
- Lettuce
- Cucumber
- Carrot
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Snow peas
- Fresh baby spinach
- Green beans
Great snack ideas
- Vegetable sticks with hummus or babaganoush
- Celery with nut butter
- Sushi with cucumber
- Cold rolls made with tofu, lettuce and carrots
- Wraps with mushroom, cabbage, grated carrot and hummus
We are all responsible
Each and every one of us has the responsibility to protect our state from the devastating effects of fruit fly. Play your part. Support local working with your neighbourhood fruit & vegetable owner to ensure you are keeping your area safe along with everyone else’s.
Be sure to keep up to date by visiting the PIRSA website.
