Chilean fruit exporters await two USDA decisions
Chilean fruit exporters await two USDA decisions
WILMINGTON, DE -- Chile's orange and grapefruit growers have completed their paperwork. Now, to export these products to the United States, they are simply awaiting for a final approval from the U.S. Department of Agricutlure's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, according to Ron Bown, chairman and chief executive officer of the Chilean Exporters Associaiton in Santiago.
Mr. Bown was the featured speaker at an event hosted by the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and the port of Wilmington, held here April 26. The meeting addressed various components of the trade, including importing, handling and distributing Chilean fruit for North America.
In attendence were 150 port leaders, importers, customs brokers, politicians, lawyers, and members of the fumigation and transportation industries.
Mr. Bown said that the Delaware River Valley received 60 percent of Chile's export volume last year.
During Mr. Bown's report on the growth and status of the Chilean fruit industry, he noted that Chilean exporters finished the shipping season by the April 20 deadline imposed by the U.S. grape marketing order. Last year, grape growers in Coachella, CA, asked the USDA to change the marketing order so that Chilean grapes would not be permitted into the United States after April 1. Lobbying efforts sponsored by the Chilean Exporters Association were instrumental in holding off any decision that would have affected exports in April 2006. Mr. Bown later told The Produce News that it is now unclear what the next steps of the USDA will be on this marketing order.
In his presentation, Mr. Bown credited "everyone in this room" for their efforts in lobbying against the April 1 deadline.
Robert Blackburn, president of the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and deputy executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, presided over the meeting.
Gene Bailey, executive director of the Diamond State Port Corp., here, welcomed the crowd to the cocktail reception and dinner at the elegant University and Whist Club of Wilmington.
The dinner menu, titled "Experience the Taste of Chile" featured foods from Chile. With hearts of palm salad and Chilean sea bass was the unusual Chilean Carica, which is a sweet Chilean papaya. Xplorador wines -- Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile's Central Valley -- also were served.
Mr. Bown was the featured speaker at an event hosted by the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and the port of Wilmington, held here April 26. The meeting addressed various components of the trade, including importing, handling and distributing Chilean fruit for North America.
In attendence were 150 port leaders, importers, customs brokers, politicians, lawyers, and members of the fumigation and transportation industries.
Mr. Bown said that the Delaware River Valley received 60 percent of Chile's export volume last year.
During Mr. Bown's report on the growth and status of the Chilean fruit industry, he noted that Chilean exporters finished the shipping season by the April 20 deadline imposed by the U.S. grape marketing order. Last year, grape growers in Coachella, CA, asked the USDA to change the marketing order so that Chilean grapes would not be permitted into the United States after April 1. Lobbying efforts sponsored by the Chilean Exporters Association were instrumental in holding off any decision that would have affected exports in April 2006. Mr. Bown later told The Produce News that it is now unclear what the next steps of the USDA will be on this marketing order.
In his presentation, Mr. Bown credited "everyone in this room" for their efforts in lobbying against the April 1 deadline.
Robert Blackburn, president of the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and deputy executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, presided over the meeting.
Gene Bailey, executive director of the Diamond State Port Corp., here, welcomed the crowd to the cocktail reception and dinner at the elegant University and Whist Club of Wilmington.
The dinner menu, titled "Experience the Taste of Chile" featured foods from Chile. With hearts of palm salad and Chilean sea bass was the unusual Chilean Carica, which is a sweet Chilean papaya. Xplorador wines -- Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile's Central Valley -- also were served.
