USDA considers imports of shelled garden peas from Kenya

USDA considers imports of shelled garden peas from Kenya    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed regulations to allow imports of shelled garden peas from Kenya.
   To be eligible for import, the peas would have to be shelled, washed and inspected, and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service.
   “Shelling allows for visual inspection and removes most of the larval pests that may be feeding on the pods and exposes pests that feed on the pea,” the agency said. “These pests are highly visible and easily detected during the shelling process.”
   The United States is the third-largest producer of garden peas after India and China. “However, less than 1 percent of U.S. production goes into the fresh market, the reason being that fresh garden peas require harvesting by hand, whereas peas destined for processing can be machine-harvested. The cost of farm labor is considerably higher in the United States than in many other countries,” the USDA said.
   Kenya is expected to be a minor player in the shipment of shelled garden peas to the United States. According to the USDA, the United States imports the majority of its fresh/chilled peas from Guatemala, Peru and Mexico.
   The USDA will accept comments for the proposed regulation through Sept. 5. For more information, contact Sharon Porsche, import specialist with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, at (301) 734-8758.