USDA proposes allowing blueberry imports from South Africa, Uruguay

USDA proposes allowing blueberry imports from South Africa, Uruguay The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed allowing, under certain conditions, the importation of commercial shipments of fresh blueberries from South Africa and Uruguay.
   Blueberries are native to North America; according to the United Nations in 2000-2002 55 percent of production was in the United States, 28 percent was in Canada, and 10 percent was in Poland with other countries competing for the remaining 7 percent.
   To ensure plant pests do not enter the United States through the importation of this commodity, APHIS would require that the blueberries undergo cold treatment and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of the exporting country. APHIS said this would allow for the importation of blueberries into the United States from South Africa and Uruguay while protecting against the introduction of plant pests, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly.
   The proposal would also formally recognize cold treatment as an approved quarantine treatment for fresh blueberries imported into the United States from Argentina.
   The leading states for blueberry production are Michigan, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Georgia and North Carolina.
   Notice of this proposed rule is published in the June 5 Federal Register, and APHIS said consideration will be given to comments received on or before July 20.