A Mexican table grape exporter has urged New Zealand to bolster its biosecurity requirements following the detection of spiders, but does not believe the incident should impact negatively on the industry. 

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) recently recalled all table grapes of Mexican origin from store shelves after potentially dangerous spiders were found in 10 consignments around the country.

Mexican grape shipments that are in transit will now have to either be fumigated or destroyed.

A representative of Sonora-based Grupo Alta - which exports a range of organic produce to various markets including New Zealand - said the 'vast majority' of Mexican table grape growers packed their fruit on-site at the fields, making them vulnerable to pest exposure.

"We pack in a central packhouse, like they do in Chile for export fruit, and so it's really good in terms of food safety and also in terms of cleaning for any potential pests, such as spiders," sales director Carlos Bon Camou told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"In fact, more than New Zealanders, the English are really scared of spiders, and we export a lot to England too so we're very careful on this subject.

He recommended New Zealand authorities impose stricter conditions for grape imports from the country so this kind of incident doesn't repeat itself.

"Our opinion is that MPI in New Zealand should implement a requirement that grapes must have been packed in a central packhouse," Camou said.

"We've never had a problem by using one."

Following the recent detection of spiders, the New Zealand Wine Growers Association and the Labor Party called for an outright ban of grape imports, citing concerns over what other threats could slip through the border.

According to Camou, Grupo Alta finished its exports to New Zealand earlier than normal this campaign when large volumes of 'cheap grapes' started being shipped from the Latin American country.

"At that point we thought 'let's just stop'. This of course turned out to be very lucky," he said, adding the company's last consignment to the Oceanic market left on May 29.

"Thank God we didn't have shipments in the country, because in New Zealand they are withdrawing all of the Mexican grapes from the market, regardless of which company they came from.

"There are exporters who are doing a really good job and have not had any problems, but they will be affected."

Camou also did not believe this incident would have a negative bearing on the Mexican table grape industry in other global markets, since he said this was uncommon and not unique to Mexico.

"Spiders have previously been found in England in both Mexican grapes and North American grapes. In England they have done recalls in the past for grapes from the U.S., where these spiders exist as well," he said.

"So I believe that the import rules need to be changed. I really hope this doesn't have any negative impacts, but Mexican producers need to pack in a centralized packhouse, like we do, like the Chileans do, like the Peruvians do, like the Spanish do, to improve food security."

The representative also pointed out New Zealand was still a small market for the Mexican grape industry.

The Grape Producers' Association of Hermosillo declined to comment on the issue.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com