U.S. CITRUS BOUND FOR CHINA AFTER 20 YEARS

U.S. CITRUS BOUND FOR CHINA AFTER 20 YEARS    The first shipments of U.S.-grown citrus in 20 years will be arriving in Beijing and Shanghai, China, this weekend.
   U.S. producers were prevented from selling their fruit in China in1980, when Mediterranean fruit fly infestations were discovered in shipments.
   “We’ve been working the last several years with the U.S. and Chinese governments to overcome obstacles to trade and gain access,” said Vince Lupinacci, president of Sunkist Growers.
   China’s agreement to open up its market to U.S. citrus happened after Chinese agricultural officials spent two weeks in January touring citrus groves in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.
   Sunkist and other citrus growers believe that China’s action to open its markets to U.S. citrus, along with wheat and meat products, should help to encourage Congress to give China permanent normal trade relations status this spring. Sunkist also supports China’s membership to the World Trade Organization.