The U.S. produce sector is set to have another Latin American papaya-supplying country in the ranks, after the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) granted access to the Peruvian industry today. 

In a post on the federal register, APHIS said Peruvian growers could ship papayas to the continental United States under certain conditions, including field sanitation, hot water treatment, packing and shipping procedures, and fruit fly trapping in production areas.

"This action will allow for the importation of papayas from Peru while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests into the continental United States," APHIS said.

Peru will join the likes of Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia as suppliers of the tropical fruit to U.S. consumers, but the market impact is expected to be minimal.

"Peru is expected to ship up to 36 metric tons of fresh papaya to the United States per year. This amount will be equivalent to less than 0.03 percent of net imports of fresh papaya by the United States in 2012," APHIS said.

"With U.S. net imports estimated to be at least eight times as large as U.S. fresh papaya production, any market effects of such a relatively negligible change in papaya imports are as likely to impact foreign suppliers as they are U.S. producers.

"In addition, effects for the majority of U.S. papaya producers, who are located in Hawaii, will be further muted by the prohibition on entry of fresh papaya from Peru into that State."

www.freshfruitportal.com