South African Delegation Visits Blueberry Production

Market access for US fresh blueberries is a process that involves working with the import country to help them gain understanding and comfort for our product.  Two years ago,  North American Blueberry Council (NABC) requested the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to contact their counterparts in the Republic of South Africa Department of Agricultural Forestry and Fisheries  Plant Production and Health department.  Since then we have shared information on US fresh blueberries to help them gain knowledge necessary to evaluate fresh blueberries for access into their country.  South Africa is a major agricultural producer and like the USA, they have a very rigid inspection system to ensure the protection of local agriculture from pests and diseases from the outside.   The process is in the works and August 16, a delegation from South Africa visited Hammonton New Jersey along with their APHIS peers to see production and packing first hand.   Many thanks to Atlantic Blueberry for taking the time and providing the excellent tour.  Of course -- we stopped at Joe Italianio's Maple Wood Inn in Hammonton for lunch and the "World's Best Spaghetti" which is now a legend in South Africa as well.  Thank you to the wonderful group of South African scientists who traveled from the other side of the planet to continue the market access process.