Fresh apricots from Spain have been okayed for shipment to the U.S.
In a regulation that is effective Jan. 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that fresh apricots from Spain will be allowed entry into the U.S. if certain phytosanitary conditions, including inspections of orchards for pests, are satisfied. The harvest season for Spanish apricots is from May 1 to July 15, according to the USDA.
The USDA said that Spanish exporters expect to ship, at most, about 10 standard shipping containers of fresh apricot per year to the U.S., which would total about 180 metric tons annually. That amount is about 1% of current U.S. consumption, and the USDA said the market effect from the newly approved shipments will be minor.
