First top fruit volumes won't make it to the U.S. until 2017

The news that top fruit from Europe could go to the U.S. next season was initially well received in the sector, "An important step has been made. But we should not celebrate just yet," says Veerle Van der Sypt from Fresh Trade Belgium. "Since the total process will still take some time, I expect that the first volumes will most likely leave for the U.S. in 2017."

Veerle explains that the U.S. system has possibly become more 'attractive', "They always work with the pre-clearance system, in which they come and inspect, onsite, if everything is good. This is an alternative to the the old system, and hopefully less cumbersome and less expensive. America has sent new measures with a sort of framework which makes clear what actions we should take in the top fruit sector. These documents have to go through the Federal Agency and they have to check if the actions are affordable and achievable. Each member state has to prepare its own work order, which then has to be approved by the U.S. This can take a while, and measures probably have to be taken in the growing area, so actual export won't take place for another year. There also has to be demand from the U.S., of course. I can imagine that demand is not always even since they have their own large production in Washington."