The papaya producers in the northeastern Brazilian states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte will be able to export the fruit to the United States.

The liberation for exports from the two regions was negotiated for three years by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply together with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Up to now only the state of Espí­rito Santo, in the southeast, was allowed to sell the product. The license was made possible because the United States Department of Agriculture accepted the Systems Approach for the fruit fly adopted in the areas of the papaya fruit trees in the extreme south of Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte.

The producers may start exporting after 30 days as of the USDA announcement, made on December 8. The agricultural and livestock federal inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture will go through training to act in the packing houses to adapt to the procedures of papaya exports to the United States.

The state of Espí­rito Santo exports papaya to the United States since 1996. Since then, the state has already exported more than 33,000 tons to the US.

Anba