NEW DELHI, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- After relishing fresh juicy Indian mangoes, American consumers will get the delicious fresh litchi from May 2010, as mutual understanding on safety issues has been reached between India and the United States on the fruit's export to the U.S. market, said an Indian official Tuesday.
India, which exported mangoes to the United States in 2007 after a 17-year ban, will now export fresh litchi to the country for the first time, reports Xinhua news agency.
A video conference was held last week between the officials of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Agriculture, India, representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and officials from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi to clear the deck.
"Mutual agreement about further course of action and cold treatment training ahead of the next litchi season cleared Americans' apprehension on the fumigation process and carved a path for the entry of litchis into the U.S. market," Asit Tripathy, Chairman, APEDA, told the media.
"Farmers in Bihar (in eastern India) will be the main beneficiary of this," Tripathy said.
Bihar is the largest producer of litchi in the country producing over 200,000 tons each year. Shahi litchi (royal litchi) of Bihar is the most popular because of its exquisite quality.
"Since the modalities have been worked out, a formal application will now go from APEDA to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Department (USFDA). Permission is expected by the end of the year," Tripathy said.
American consumers never got the taste of fresh litchi as such. At best what they got was processed litchi from India.
"Now, we will be in a position to export fresh litchi too. We will use sulfur dioxide as a post-harvest fumigant and this will prevent blackening of skin and will improve shelf life," he said.
At 250,000 tonnes of litchi production, India is the second biggest producer after China. India exports around 1,300 tonnes of fresh and processed litchi, mainly to European and Asian countries.
"Though in rupee terms, the export to the U.S. will amount to nearly 50 million rupees (some US$1 million), it will establish a superior value chain for domestic market as well and the producers will surely get higher value," Tripathy said.
Source : bernama.com