Washington apples may start heading to China again next month.
Chinese agricultural officials have agreed to open their ports to Washington’s Red and Golden Delicious apples for the first time in two years pending one more visit from their scientists, industry officials said.
“This is the first step into reopening the market that has been closed since the beginning of 2012,” said Mike Willett, vice president for scientific affairs for the Northwest Horticultural Council, which represents the region’s fruit industry on trade and policy issues.
China had allowed imports of the two apple varieties since 1993, but shut them down at the beginning of last year’s harvest due to concerns about a fungal disease.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Yakima Herald-Republic
