The first Uruguayan citrus exports to the United States will be carried out in the next few weeks. Exporters are waiting for the approval of the proposed work plan, the last step so that they can start marketing to the US.
Federico Montes, advisor of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries fo the citrus area, told El Pais that the first shipment of Uruguayan citrus to the United States is being prepared, probably for the first half of October.
They will export between four and five containers of the Valencia orange variety, which will total about 100 tons. Montes said that this export will also serve as a test for future sales, since what will be sold to the United States citrus-wise are mainly mandarin and other oranges.
As of today, the last step to finalize the first operation is that US health officials approve the work plan that was presented by Uruguay.
"We hope to get authorization during the next week. We've done everything in our power so that Uruguay's proposal is approved," said Montes.
Citrus businessman, Carlos Fraschini , who will be appointed as the new president of the Union of Producers and Exporters of Fruits from Uruguay (Upefruy) in coming days told El Pais that they are getting everything ready for the first shipments of oranges to the USA.
"The work plan is an important operation, it begins in the fifth link and runs through various links in the chain, including the cold treatment received by these fruits which is a key factor," he said.
The work plan refers to different industrial and production level aspects, including phytosanitary issues, adaptations of local packing plants, and monitoring in the harvesting process. It is a kind of a phytosanitary traceability plan, explained Montes. There is a special emphasis on the control of the fruit fly, for that is the biggest concern for official authorities, producers and operators in the United States.
Source: Elpais.com.uy