Preparations for next seasons citrus harvest are being carried out normally and producers have been complying with all the provisions of the regulations stipulated in the Fresh Fruit Certification Program for the EU markets and other similar restrictions, said the regional director of Senasa South NOA, Carlos Grignola.
"Most people estimate that this year we will export a higher amount of fruit to these markets than last year, especially because of the weather we've had, despite having had rains for many days in a row, which complicated performing applications, which can affect the products health. However, I think the producers have been working well and that there will be good fruit this year, "said the official.
To date there are 491 citrus producing establishments that intend to export their fruit, and that have a total of 5,579 production units (UP) registered for the export of fruit. These UP have a surface of nearly 29,014 hectares that have already met the first steps required by the protocols.
They have already complied with the first monitoring, the registration process, filing the necessary papers for certification, and they have also registered properly and have had a first diagnosis.
These days, producers are requesting the completion of the second monitoring, a necessary step to continue the certification process. For these jobs, the Senasa has 110 workers that can visit the registered producers. Additionally, Senasa will have to hire about 34 people to perform the work in the packaging plants.
"The audit performed by EU technicians who visited our production area already finished and we achieved positive results," he said.
Finally, Grignola said it was important to note that "the environmental conditions we've been having are favorable for diseases that may affect the health of the fruit so it's for producers to continue performing preventive fungicide applications with authorized products, as they are doing, and that they continue to comply with the applications stipulated by the norm."
