U.S. access for Jalisco avocados "a matter of weeks", claims state minister - FreshFruitPortal.com

U.S. access for Jalisco avocados "a matter of weeks", claims state minister

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U.S. access for Jalisco avocados

The Minister of Rural Development for the Mexican state of Jalisco has told the local press he expects the U.S. to open up access for the region's avocados in "a matter of weeks".

Speaking with the publication El Economista, Hector Padilla said the state complied with all the standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

"We meet all the requirements the United States has demanded since October last year, and which the heads of SAGARPA (Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food) and the [Ministry of] Economy who represent our government in this negotiation closed last November," Padilla was quoted as saying.

"We are waiting for any moment at the start of the year to have the announcement of authorization to export avocados from Jalisco to the United States."

Jalisco currently has 8,600 export-certified hectares of the crop, covering 12 municipalities. Once U.S. access is granted, it is expected that more growers will convert to Hass avocados in search of better returns.

"We have 8,600 hectares certified; in March of 2013 there two municipalities with 1,500 hectares certified, and the opening of the United States market will represent an impressive attraction," Padilla was quoted as saying.

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