U.S. CITRUS EXPANDS EXPORT BUSINESS TO ARGENTINA

U.S. CITRUS EXPANDS EXPORT BUSINESS TO ARGENTINA    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has signed an agreement with Argentina’s Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentario to allow the importation of Florida and California citrus, in addition to some California stone fruits.
   The USDA estimates the agreement will generate about $3 million for the citrus industry and about $5 million for the stone fruit industry.
   Argentina agreed to accept the fruit provided that shipments are accompanied by an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service phytosanitary certificate indicating the fruit has been inspected for certain pests or that it’s from areas free of pests. The shipments must also be free of soil.
   As part of the agreement, Argentina will change its regulations to allow for the import of this fruit. Shipments will begin once the regulations are in place, agriculture officials said.