Oranges on the water

There are oranges from Spain on the water, headed for the U.S. That's the word I received from one USDA official today, who explained the oranges have undergone a preclearance program and cold treatment to prevent the spread of Medfly.

I got no volume estimate on the level of shipments expected, however.

The oranges are under the same preclearance plan as the clementines, though some of the fruit fly trapping requirements at the grove level were suspended for oranges in view of the time of the season and the clementine trapping results.

Here is a APHIS page that links to what countries can ship to the U.S.

Don't look for Argentina citrus anytime soon. Risk assessments are continuing but officials have to work through issues whether the fruit will be allowed or not because of the citrus black spot disease. Rule making would likely take 12 months to 18 months if a proposal were put forward, in any case.