A new irradiation facility in Hidalgo, Mexico is paving for the way for the first shipments of Manila mangoes to the US, with the end of April earmarked as a possible date for entry.
Sterigenics International operates the facility, Sterigenics Gamma Mexico, and has been shipping Guavas to the US since November last year, according to The Packer.
The group is now waiting on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification before it can pack, treat and ship the mangoes.
'When they did the organisational plan in 2006, they covered all products that they would be irradiating,' the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection service's Melissa O'Dell told The Packer. 'For mangoes, there are just some technical things that need to be done before they start.'
César Moreno, general manager at the irradiation facility, said that mangoes would be shipped to the same three US companies that the guavas were sent to – Paradise Exotic Fruits LLC, F Diaz LLC and Tijuana's Produce Inc.
However, some importers are concerned over the necessary inclusion of a label stating that the product has been treated by irradiation, claiming it will put consumers off.
'I just don't think that a housewife is looking forward to feeding her family irradiated fruit,' said Rick Burkett of Farmer's Best International.
