Cherries to Japan

  Cherries to Japan. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Japan has recently opened their doors to a better cherry export market making a lot of people in the northwest smile. Dan Newhouse, Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture says they have been busy on this issue.

NEWHOUSE: About 2 ½ weeks ago the government of Japan to the surprise of everyone in the cherry industry and here changed their mind on allowing cherries that had been packed and shipped under the new systems approach protocol for detection of codling moth versus the old fumigation system.

Japan has agreed to allow an inspections protocol as a substitute for pest treatments previously required for imported cherries.

NEWHOUSE: It’s a great win. I’m very excited about the potential for exporting cherries without fumigation. As you know they have a better shelf life, they’ll be a better quality product and at a cheaper cost not only to us as we produce and export them but to the consumer so I think it’s a really positive thing for the cherry marketing effort.

By not having to fumigate the inspected fruit will have a longer shelf life, shippers will now be able to use cargo ships rather than more expensive air freight service.

NEWHOUSE: You know we are half way or more through the cherry season now and so timing could have been better if things had been able to move forward as planned from the onset of the marketing season but I think that this will help us for next year.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.