Growers Plan Suit Over Argentine Citrus

California and Arizona citrus growers said they will file a lawsuit against Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to block imports of lemons, oranges and grapefruits from Argentina because of the threat of disease. The U.S. Citrus Science Council said the suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court this month either in Washington or Fresno, will demand that a new rule permitting imports from Argentina be declared invalid. Last month the U.S. Department of Agriculture lifted a ban on citrus imports from Argentina, clearing the way for as much as $30 million worth of lemons, oranges and grapefruits, after USDA scientists certified four Argentine states were free of citrus canker. But the growers contend that two other highly contagious viruses, citrus black spot and sweet orange scab, remain a threat because they can cause blemishes on fruit, reducing the quality. Jose Molina, agricultural attache at the Argentine Embassy in Washington, said the import rules came after two years of public hearings and six years of negotiations between USDA and Argentina to ensure that citrus imports are free of disease. The USDA had no comment on plans for a lawsuit.