Korea Can Sell Oranges to Alaska

WASHINGTON - Oct 25/07 - SNS -- The USDA will allow South Korea to export unshu oranges to Alaska as long as certain mitigation measures are met.

"To ensure that plant pests or diseases do not enter the United States through the importation of this commodity," the USDA said, " the oranges must be prepared for shipping using packinghouse procedures that include culling damaged or diseased fruit and cleaning all fruit with high-pressure air or water in combination with brushing.

"Each shipping box also must be stamped or printed with the following: 'These oranges may not be shipped to or distributed in any state other than Alaska.'

"Additionally, each shipment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the national plant protection organization of the Republic of Korea with an additional declaration stating that the oranges were inspected and found to be free of citrus canker and arrowhead scale, two significant pests of citrus.

"Alaska's cold climate and lack of host plants would prevent these diseases from becoming established. APHIS selected these measures, among others, to effectively mitigate the risk of introducing plant pests."