US growers have suffered a blow following the news Taiwan has banned the country’s apples.
Taiwan, a big market for US producers, imposed the ban this week after finding a codling moth larvae in a shipment of apples, the third case this year.
The shipment has come from Oregon, but two similar discoveries had been made in previous shipments from Washington and California.
Under the terms of a trade agreement, a third incident of codling moths is grounds for closing the Taiwanese market to US apples.
The agreement had been reached after Taiwan banned the import of U.S. apples for more than a month in late 2002, when similar larvae were found.
The ban was especially unwelcome news for growers anticipating February's Chinese New Year in Taiwan, the biggest selling season for US apples.
More than half of all apples on sale in Taiwan are imported from the US, with Fuji from Washington state proving a big draw with consumers.
