The California-dominated U.S. winter market for pomegranates could be in line for some healthy competition from Turkey if a recent government recommendation is taken on board. 

In an announcement yesterday, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported it was publishing a proposed rule that would allow imports of fresh pomegranates from Turkey into the continental United States, including Alaska.

"After completing a comprehensive pest risk analysis, APHIS has determined that pomegranates produced in Turkey can be safely imported into the continental United States under a systems approach," the service said.

"The systems approach would require a number of safeguards to be applied across the fruit production continuum to effectively reduce any risk," APHIS said, adding this included registration and monitoring, pest-free production sites, grove sanitation, pest control practices, fruit disinfection, chemical treatment and cold treatment.

Lots will also need to be identified and full traceability will be needed back to the place of production, with inspection for quarantine pests from Turkish authorities. 

"Additionally, pomegranates would have to be packed within 24 hours of harvest into pest-proof containers or covered for transport to the continental United States," APHIS said.

"All shipments would require a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the pomegranates have been inspected and found to be free of quarantine pests and were produced in accordance with the proposed requirements. 

APHIS will be accepting comments on the matter until August 21, 2017.

The U.S. fresh pomegranate market had a new supplier this year in the form of Peru, which like Chile has a season that runs counter to supplies from California, Turkey and other Northern Hemisphere growing regions. 

www.freshfruitportal.com