The possibility of full market access for apple trade between China and the US has been discussed at the Washington Apple Commission (WAC) meeting in Yakima on 11 December.
An announcement on both imports of Chinese apples and exports of US apples could be made as early as January, during bilateral plant health meetings in San Francisco, reports the Capital Press.
“We hope there will be an announcement of full varietal access and that rolls over into the next week when I head to China,” Todd Fryhover, president of WAC said at the meeting, adding that the announcement on full varietal access “appears highly likely.” Fryhover will hold a series of trade luncheons and press conferences in China in late January, and is hoping the US apple industry can build its exports to China from 2m boxes this year, to 5m in 2015 and 10m thereafter.
The USDA announced thatmarket access had reopened for Washington State Red and Golden Delicious applesinto China on 30 October.
“Regaining this important market and expanding access to all varieties from all states is a top priority for USApple and the entire industry,' Jim Bair, president of the US Apple Association said in late October when access was regained for Washington varieties. “We commend the tireless efforts of the Northwest Horticultural Council, Northwest Fruit Exports and Washington Apple Commission as well as the hard work at Aphis.”
US Apples has also said that opening both markets to bilateral apple trade would be the primary focus of meetings in San Francisco in January.
“We anticipate there will be an announcement on the import as well as export side,” Chris Schlect, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council, told Capital Press. If access for all apple varieties is granted, Schlect said shipments to China would start in February, and that they would face similar quarantine protocols to those imposed on Washington Red and Delicious apples.
Market access for Washington apples was suspended in 2012, during which WAC suspended its retail promotions in the People’s Republic. Earlier this year, WAC announced it would be setting aside US$743,500 for the reintroduction of promotional programmes in China.
This season’s bumper crop of Washington apples has hit 150m cartons, with some 75 per cent sitting in cold storage due to slow movement as a result of port strikes and a marked increase in volume, according to the Yakima Herald.
