The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially recognised the central and southern oases of Mendoza in Argentina as areas free from fruit fly, paving the way for increased fresh produce exports to the US market.
By removing the requirement for cold treatment of products, the Argentinean Ministry of Agriculture (MinAgri) believes US imports of fresh fruits and vegetables produced in Mendoza will significantly increase.
Suppliers have long been criticised the cold treatment protocol required for US entry for its costly application and impact on product quality.
The move is now set to benefit the export of Mendozan peaches, plums, apricots, pears and cherries, the latter of which will now be able to reach the US by air.
Argentina is the third-largest supplier of cherries and stonefruit to the US, with a supply worth some US$1.5m, after Chile and Canada, according to MinAgri.
