“Our customers — the importers — are currently bringing in blueberries from Chile, asparagus from Peru, assorted vegetables from Guatemala and mangoes from Peru, among other items,” said Ana Ramos, co-owner with her husband Frank of The Perishable Specialist, a leading customs brokerage firm headquartered in Miami. The company handles fresh produce exclusively.

“This season blueberries from Chile originating from regions VI, VII and VII are required to have fumigation due to the European Grapevine Moth,” she continued. “This fumigation requirement can take place at the origin or the destination of the product.”

Commonly referred to as EVGM, and scientifically identified as Lobesia botrana, the insect is considered a threat to U.S. crops.

Ana and Frank Ramos, co-owners of The Perishable Specialist, flanked by daughters Analis and Sophia.On Dec. 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service posted a notification stating that effective immediately the agency was implementing new entry requirements for the importation of fresh blueberry fruit from Chile into the United States. The notification also stated that APHIS was taking this action in response to multiple detections of the moth in Chilean blueberry orchards.

“The Perishable Specialist participated in two conference calls with the USDA hosted by United Fresh Produce Association, which yielded information and coordination for the blueberry industry out of Chile,” said Ramos. “Robert Guenther, senior vice president, Public Policy, for United Fresh was instrumental in bringing key people from the industry together with the USDA to coordinate the viability of this blueberry season.”

She added that because asparagus from Peru is fumigated as a condition of entry into the United States, The Perishable Specialist coordinates fumigations on a daily basis at Miami International Airport as well as Port of Miami and Port Everglades.

“All three South Florida arrival ports fumigate in containers,” Ramos explained. “The bulk of fumigations at the airport occur in pressure tested trailers while the fumigations at the ports are done in the same container without having to manipulate the cargo.

“AL-Flex Exterminators, Inc. which fumigates at the airport and Port of Miami, put together a thorough fumigation procedure which was distributed to our importers,” she added.

On Jan. 17, Juan (Tony) A. Román, senior regulatory policy specialist, USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine issued an order stating that due to operational considerations at the ports of entry in the United States, APHIS had approved additional maritime ports of entry by which fresh blueberry consignments may be imported while meeting phytosanitary safeguards and requirements.

The order further stated that therefore, effective immediately, all fresh blueberry consignments from Chile must be either subjected to an increased preclearance inspection rate under the pre-clearance program at the port of export for consignments originating in regions other than VI, VII, or VIII; fumigated with methyl bromide in Chile; or upon arrival at the maritime ports of entry of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, including ports in the New York City metropolitan area, Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA, Miami and Port Everglades, FL, Wilmington, DE, and Philadelphia.

Ramos noted, “For us in Miami, fumigating blueberries will be business as usual because Peruvian asparagus have paved the way for our understanding, knowledge and expertise involved in the fumigation processes which we can now apply to blueberries from Chile.”