Alaska open to imports of Korean Unshu oranges

Alaska open to imports of Korean Unshu oranges The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow for the import of South Korean Unshu oranges in Alaska.
   “Alaska’s cold climate and lack of host plants would prevent (citrus canker and arrowhead scale) from becoming established,” the agency said in a statement.
   However, the oranges must still undergo strict shipping procedures, such as culling damaged or diseased fruit and cleaning all fruit with high-pressure air or water in combination with brushing.
   Each shipping box must also be stamped or printed with the following: “These oranges may not be shipped to or distributed in any state other than Alaska.”
   Additionally, each shipment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from South Korea’s national plant protection organization and include a statement declaring the oranges were inspected and found to be free of citrus canker and arrowhead scale, two significant citrus pests.