Grey Lynn's staring down the barrel of a long spell with the fruit fly control zone in place.

MPI says it'll be there until at least the end of November, to ensure the Queensland fruit fly has been eradicated.

Grey Lynn Residents Association chair Dan Salmon says not being able to take fruit out of the zone has left some residents in a bit of a pickle.

"Most of the pain at the moment is where we're all sort of groaning with feijoas and can't give them to mothers and aunts and we can't let them leave the neighbourhood."

Salmon says despite the inconvenience, residents understand the importance of the fruit fly control measures.

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Peter Silcock says MPI's measures are appropriately thorough.

"It's the sort of standard we would impose on people who were exporting products here to New Zealand so it's an acceptable way to go."

MPI says if another fruit fly is found between now and the end of November, the control zone period may well be extended.

Countdown's two Grey Lynn supermarkets have been made MPI-approved retailers so shoppers can take fruit and vegetables bought there outside of the zone.