USDA proposes rules to allow baby sweet corn, carrots from Zambia

USDA proposes rules to allow baby sweet corn, carrots from Zambia    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed rules to allow for the import into the United States of fresh baby sweet corn and baby carrots from Zambia.
   As a condition of entry, both commodities would be subject to inspection at the first port of arrival and would have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the commodity has been inspected and found free of the quarantine pests listed on the certificate, the USDA said.
   USDA expects minimal impact on American growers of baby sweet corn and baby carrots from the rulemaking.
   The Zambian government has indicated its intention to export about 400 metric tons (or 16 40-foot containers) of baby corn and 400 metric tons of baby carrots to the United States a year. There are two large commercial agricultural companies in Zambia: York Farm and Chalimbana Fresh Produce Ltd. (formerly known as Agriflora Ltd.).
   The USDA will take comments about the proposed rulemaking through March 13. For more information, contact Sharon Porsche, import specialist with USDA’s Plant Health Programs, at (301) 734-8758.