The US could resume apple exports to China as soon as next year, according to Chris Schlect, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council.
“There’s a lot to be done between now and then,” Schlect told Capital Press.
“On first blush it looks like an achievable goal, but I don’t want to be too optimistic or pessimistic.”
Schlect’s vice president of scientific affairs, Mike Willett, attended bilateral phytosanitary talks between the US Department of Agriculture and China’s Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection earlier this month.
Schlect said negotiations progressed well at the meeting, with access likely to be granted for US-grown Red and Golden Delicious apples, the only US varieties China has accepted to date.
China imposed a ban on all US apple imports in August 2012, following claims it had detected a post-harvest diseases in consignments of fruit sent from the North American nation.
However, a number of officials from the US apple industry believe the reason for the closure was to pressure the US authorities into accepting Chinese-grown Fuji apples, according to Capital Press.
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