Table-Grape Precautions

* Two important points in “Table-Grape Dispute Could Sour Australia-Calif. Trade Relations” [March 3] need clarification.

Australia is free of many of the most destructive pests and diseases affecting other agricultural economies. Our [Australian] agricultural exports are of paramount importance to our economy. Australian wine and table grapes are important exports. Grapes are grown in all states of Australia.

Australia, in contrast to many of the countries that import Californian table grapes, does not have Pierce’s disease nor its troublesome insect carrier, the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Both the disease and the insect, if they entered Australia, would be likely to flourish on the basis of climate and habitat. They could devastate our wine and table-grape industries and could cause immense damage as well to other agricultural and horticultural industries.

As the article pointed out, the situation has changed since Australia first assessed the import risk from this product. A risk that was recognized but assessed as manageable with certain protocols increased substantially with the growth in the populations of glassy-winged sharpshooters and the spread of the disease.

As recently as late last year, Australian scientists were told that insect numbers in California were growing. Australians sympathize with the growers struggling with this problem. We hope effective controls are discovered soon.

It is not unreasonable in these circumstances, however, that Australia should seek to ensure the fumigant proposed (methyl bromide) is effective against insects that may be hidden in bunches of grapes packed tightly together in crates. Nor is it unreasonable to seek to clarify the effect the low temperatures at which the grapes are transported have on insect survival.

ALLAN ROCHER

Australian Consul General

Century City

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