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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
March 23, 2001
Argentina Agrees to Expand U.S. Citrus and Stone Fruit Market Access
As follow-up to a verbal agreement between former Secretary Glickman and Argentine Agriculture Secretary Berhongaray to resolve several long standing market access issues, bilateral technical consultations were held in Argentina, March 6-7. Argentina committed to changing its agriculture legislation within three months (by the end of May), so that the current impediments to the entry of California citrus would be removed. Argentina finally accepted the widely used "Caribbean fruit fly protocol" as providing adequate safeguards for the export of Florida citrus, and agreed to change the entry requirements within six weeks. Argentina also agreed to administratively amend the requirements for California stone fruit within a month to improve the access for peaches and nectarines. The estimated market potential could reach as high as $3 million for U.S. citrus and $5 million for U.S. stone fruit. (Omar Karawa 720-1336, Christine Sloop, 690-2702 )
Japan Food Service Wholesaler Demonstrates American Foods’ Allure in Western Japan
In two highly visible food wholesale exhibitions in Western Japan, sponsored by the Toho Food Service Wholesale Corporation, ATO/Osaka helped introduce 86 American food products to more than 4,000 restaurant industry buyers and chief decision makers. ATO/Osaka managed a USA Food Pavilion and recruited nine importer/agents which displayed and sampled products such as frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen soups, frozen seafood, Tex-Mex food ingredients, pasta, cranberry and citrus juices. The U.S. products featured in the USA Pavilion were listed in Toho’s product list as "New Items" and attracted much attention. American company exhibitors are currently following-up inquiries and orders received during the show. (Kevin Latner, ATO Osaka)
Organic Wines Now Available at Largest Supermarket Chain in France
After organic meat, fish and fruits and vegetables, Carrefour, France’s largest supermarket, and number two in the world after Wal-Mart, is now selling organic wines. During the International Agricultural Show (SIAL), Carrefour signed a partnership with French organic wine growers. AOC organic Cotes de Provence will be sold at $3, Anjou at $4 and table wines at $2.50. That organic wines are getting such unprecedented exposure shows two things: (1) even the most sacred of products can be sold in a relatively new format, and (2) anything organic is thought to attract consumer interest, given the recent food scares. (Frank Piason, Paris)
FAO to Convene Committee on Agriculture
From March 26-30, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will convene its Committee on Agriculture to discuss FAO’s program of work in the food and agriculture sector, including activities related to climate variability and change; reducing agricultural vulnerability to storm-related disasters; the place of agriculture in sustainable development; and biosecurity for food and agriculture. FAS/ICD’s Dick Hughes will lead the U.S. Delegation. (Richard J. Hughes, 690-0865)
FAO Convening Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM)
From April 2-6, FAO members will meet in Rome to consider adoption of five new phytosanitary standards, and to establish ICPM’s 2001-02 program of work. The revised 1997 text of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) established the Commission of Phytosanitary Measures to oversee implementation of the Convention, which promotes international cooperation to prevent the spread of plant pests, including appropriate measures for their control. APHIS Deputy Administrator Richard Dunkle will lead the U.S. Delegation. (Richard J. Hughes, 690-0865)
India Imports Record Level of U.S. Almonds
U.S. almond exports to India, now the industry’s second largest market after Germany, reached a record level of $70.5 million in calendar year 2000, up 76 percent from the previous year. Almonds were the leading U.S. agricultural export item to India last year, accounting for over 30 percent of the cumulative export value. Increasing living standards and the expanding number of middle-class consumers have contributed to the substantial increase in shipments. Almonds are very much a part of the cultural eating patterns of consumers in India. The main consumption use of almonds is as a food ingredient, rather than a snack. India sources most of its almonds (approximately 95 percent) from the United States. Through continued market development efforts, and with further liberalization of India’s high import duties and tax structure, industry sources believe that U.S. almond exports to India have the potential to top $100 million per year. (Erik Hansen, 720-0875)
ATO’s First Virtual Wine Tasting a Big Success
The Wine Tasting targeted Mexico City’s five star hotel and restaurant industry (HRI), with nearly $70,000 in sales reported for the 12-month period following the event. The ATO worked closely with the California Office of Trade and Investment to identify and recruit those Mexican wine importers/distributors interested in promoting U.S. wines. Four Mexican distributors representing seven different U.S. wineries participated in the event. The winery owners/head vintners in the United States led the tasting via video teleconference, providing background information on their respective wines and the wineries, while their distributors, on-location at the video teleconference site in Mexico City, actually poured the wines, provided wine notes, answered technical questions, and took orders. (US Embassy, Mexico City/Jeanne F. Bailey)
APHIS Begins Phytosanitary Training in Ghana
This month, through an FAS/ICD-administered, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project, APHIS will begin training phytosanitary inspectors from Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture Plant Protection, Regulatory Services Directorate. The training will include study tours to airports, seaports, land border ports, and APHIS plant protection and quarantine facilities to cover phytosanitary certification requirements, import permit and inspection procedures, fumigation/other treatments, pest identification, and framework protocols. The training is a result of a February visit to Ghana by FAS, APHIS, and AMS specialists to conduct a grades, standards, and market information assessment.
USDA Grants Protection to 28 New Plant Varieties
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued certificates of protection to developers of 28 new varieties of seed-reproduced plants. The protected seeds include corn, lettuce, pea, soybean, and watermelon. The new certificates are being issued under the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA). The certificates require that the varieties be new, distinct, uniform and stable. The owners will have the exclusive right to reproduce, sell, import and export their products in the United States for the duration of protection. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service administers the (PVPA), which provides limited time marketing protection to developers of new and distinct seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants ranging from farm crops to flowers. (For additional information about the PVPA, contact AMS at 301-504-5518.)
USDA Issues Referendum Order on Proposed Amendments to Washington Sweet Cherry Marketing Order
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a referendum order on proposed amendments to the federal marketing agreement and order for sweet cherries grown in designated counties in Washington State. USDA will conduct the referendum April 10-27 to determine support for the amendments. Ballot material will be mailed to all known sweet cherry growers in the order's production area, including the additional counties proposed for inclusion. If the referendum is approved, it would increase the marketing order's authority by expanding its production area to include all counties in Washington State east of the Cascade Mountain Range. Other proposed amendments would: (1) increase representation on the committee; (2) allow cherries to be shipped outside the production area for handling; (3) authorize collection of late payment charges and/or interest on handlers' late payments of assessments; (4) add authority to establish container marking requirements; (5) and simplify the form filing process for committee members and alternates seeking committee positions. (For additional information, contact Kathleen M. Finn at (202) 720-2491)
Independent Panel Completes Biotechnology Report for the EPA
A panel of independent scientists convened by EPA has completed its report which provides input on EPA's preliminary comprehensive reassessment of all Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, cotton, and potato plant incorporated protectants. EPA solicited advice from the Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) during a public meeting held October 18-20, 2000, to ensure that the Agency's reassessment of currently-registered biotechnology products utilizes the most current scientific understanding, and meets the most stringent public health and environmental safety standards. These protectants are regulated by EPA as pesticides because they have been engineered to contain Bt, a naturally-occurring substance which acts to combat insect pests. EPA's next step is to proceed with its comprehensive evaluation of the existing Bt registrations, taking into account all data available to the Agency, the SAP's recommendations, any newly submitted information and public comments. EPA will then publish the revised reassessment for public comment, which will include proposed registration decisions on the Bt products. (For addition information, contact David Deegan 202-564-7839 or deegan.dave@epa.gov.)
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