Namibian grapes get the US nod

STARTING TOMORROW
(October 6), the United
States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) will
permit the importation of
Namibian grapes.
The department’s
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service amended
its fruit import regulations
to permit Namibian fresh
table grapes to enter the
lucrative American market
on a short-term provisional
basis that becomes
permanent on October 23.
The Grape Valley
Management Company told
FTW that grapes
must undergo cold
treatment and fumigation.
When the grapes reach
dockside in the States, they
require a phytosanitary
certificate from Namibian
authorities.