USDA to allow imports of Namibian table grapes

USDA to allow imports of Namibian table grapes    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of fresh table grapes from Nambia into the United States, effective Oct. 23.
   Prior to importation, USDA requires the grapes to undergo cold treatment and fumigation with methyl bromide. The shipments must also be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, with an additional declaration stating that the commodity has been inspected and found free of certain pests. The agency said the grape imports will be subject to inspection at the first U.S. port of arrival.
   The USDA expects the Namibian table grape imports to have minimal impact on domestic production. Imports of the commodity in the first year are expected to reach only 22.5 40-foot containers, or about 744,000 pounds, which is less than one-tenth of 1 percent of fresh table grape imports into the United States and less than one-tenth of 1 percent of total domestic produced table grapes.