(Photo via Graphicstock)

Oranges in a crate.

As the citrus growing season begins and folks have extra backyard fruit, food banks are welcoming citrus once again.

Valley food banks quit taking citrus donations last year because of a quarantine in some Arizona counties. The quarantine was meant to keep the pest Asian Citrus Psyllid, which has the potential to ruin citrus trees, from spreading.

The pest spread anyway and that means United Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance will be able to take citrus donations once again, says St. Mary's spokesman Jerry Brown.

“We’re kind of throwing it wide open. Last year we lost between 2 to 3 million pounds of grapefruits, lemons and oranges that we normally would have received.”

This summer, the Arizona Department of Agriculture found the pest across the state.

Ginny Hildebrand with the United Food Bank says that by extending the Psyllid quarantines statewide, citrus donations can make it to those who need it the most.

“Some of our most rural, most remote locations really need that citrus and Vitamin C," she said. "But we could not distribute it very well to them last year because of the quarantine and the way it was set up.”

The quarantine now covers all Arizona counties, and food banks will take all drop-off donations from anyone who has excess fruit.

United Food Bank accepts citrus donations after screening.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the United Food Bank's acceptance policy.