U.S. Delays Decision on Argentine Lemons

Postponing a potential headache for California citrus growers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture delayed its decision to allow Argentina to export citrus to this country.

Earlier this year, agriculture officials recommended allowing imports of some Argentine lemons. The action angered California growers, many of them in Ventura County, who feared not only competition from a lower-cost rival but also the importation of troublesome insect pests that might accompany the fruit.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said she persuaded Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to lengthen the comment period on the department’s proposed rule by at least four months.

This, she said, will allow time for a scientific team hired by California citrus farmers to travel to Argentina to assess any potential hazards.