The technical teams of the ICA and APHIS, the United States phytosanitary authority, held a bilateral technical meeting to open the US market for -Colombia's passionflowers, such as pomegranate, curuba, gulupa, and passion fruit, and to update the phytosanitary requirements for the entry of fresh cape gooseberries.
Colombia also plans to make progress in the reactivation of the work plan to export fresh papaya fruit and to improve the conditions of access to blueberries, Hass avocado, pitahaya, and chrysanthemum cut flowers to the United States. The ICA is working to provide more market opportunities to small and medium-sized growers, the main producers of these fruits in the country.
The bilateral meeting was held at ICA's general headquarters and the technical teams held a tour of production sites and packing plants in Bogota and Cundinamarca from March 28 to 30.
“This process we are moving forward with APHIS is aimed at defining strategies that guarantee the mitigation of risks and the protection of our exports to the United States, our main commercial ally. The ICA will continue working for the transformation of the Colombian countryside,” stated Juan Fernando Roa, the general manager of the ICA.
In this way, the ICA is working to generate well-being for producing families; formal employment, and competitiveness in the world markets with products that are safe for human consumption.
Source: ica.gov.co