Curly top virus hurts Fresno County tomato crop

From www.thebusinessjournal.com:

Curly top virus, a vegetable disease that causes tomato leaves to curl and wither, has hit the western Fresno County processed tomato crop, reducing or wiping out tomato production in some fields.

The damage, which can be seen in the Five Points area, could lead to shortages and higher prices for items like tomato sauce, tomato paste and ketchup.

The problem comes at a time when westside crops are already threatened because of dry conditions and reduced water allocations.

Curly top virus is transmitted by the beet leafhopper. It passes the disease as it feeds.

Tom Turini, Fresno County Cooperative Extension advisor, said the disease has not hit every field, but some fields have been devastated. "Some crops were shredded and had to be replanted," Turini said. "It  has damaged a substantial amount of acreage."

He said dry conditions in the foothills may have driven the beet leafhopper down to the vallley floor. Also, the disease cropped up earlier than usual, Turini said.