USDA gives seeded grapefruit imports a break

USDA gives seeded grapefruit imports a break    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued an interim rule to relax import regulations for seeded grapefruit shipments.
   “Production of seeded grapefruit in Florida has declined to the point that removing seeded grapefruit from order requirements will have no significant impact on the grapefruit market,” USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service said.
   Handlers of seeded grapefruit are no longer subject to minimum grade, size, assessment, and reporting requirements under section 8e of the 1937 Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act, the agency said.
   According to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the dollar value of imported grapefruit ranged from $902,000 in 1998 to $2.02 million during the 2002 season. The Bahamas is the principal supplier of seeded grapefruits to the United States, followed by Israel.