Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/71703
Wax issue slows exports P ear exports to Europe were affected last season by a European ban on morpholine, an emulsifier in wax formulations, reports Dr. Mike Willett, vice president for scien- tific affairs at the Northwest Horticultural Council. The ingredient is approved for use in most apple and pear producing countries, but not in the European Union. "It's done a lot of damage to our ability to export pears to Europe," he reported to the export committee of the Pear Bureau Northwest during its annual meeting in late May. Pear exports to Europe dropped 40 percent this year from the previous season. The main problem, Willett said, is that there is no standard method for detection and analysis of morpholine residues anywhere in the world. "Labs in different countries are using different methodologies, so a negative here doesn't mean you won't get a positive in Europe," he said. The manufacturer and independent laboratories are working to develop a standard- ized test, he said. Until that happens, setting a residue tolerance for the chemical is a meaningless concept if everyone is not using the same test. There's been discussion about requesting a food additive tolerance for morpholine in Europe, which is something the manufacturer would need to do, he said. That process would probably be lengthy as it would involve submitting health and safety data similar to those needed for the pesticide registration process. Last season was an excellent one for Northwest pear exports, with almost 7 million boxes shipped to Canada and other export markets by mid-May of this year, which is more than 40 percent of the crop. The value of the exports was also high, with the average f.o.b. price at more than $20 a box. With the end of a retaliatory tariff of 20 percent on pears going to Mexico, shipments to that country have increased, Jeff Correa, the Pear Bureau's director of export promo- tions reported at the bureau's annual meeting in Portland in May. Mexico was expected to take 3.5 million boxes of pears by the end of the season. Brazil surpassed Russia as the third leading pear export market after Mexico and Canada, with more than 525,000 boxes shipped there by May. However, shippers have had some difficulties getting pears to arrive in Brazil in good condition. Amano Time Clocks Save You Money A Ag-Canada makes cost-cutting moves griculture and Agri-Food Canada is making changes at its facilities in British Columbia as part of its cost-saving measures. The Centre for Plant Health at Saanich, which provides testing, virus indexing, and therapy for viruses and pests of vines, fruit trees, and other plants, will be moved over the course of the next two years to the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre at Summerland. At Summerland, work on the introduction and commercialization of new tree fruit varieties will be reduced, but the center will continue to be the lead facility in Canada for research on tree fruit variety and germplasm development, which is also conducted at Kentville, Nova Scotia. Patrick Girard, supervisor of media relations with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa, said the agency believes that the industry is in the best position to decide which innovations can deliver economic gains to the tree fruit industry. For example, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has worked with PICO (Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation) on projects to accelerate the commercialization of new high-quality apple and cherry varieties that offer producers new production opportunities. "We are exploring ways to foster industry-led partnerships in near-market research areas such as market finishing and commercialization of new varieties and focusing our efforts in areas where we can have a greater impact," he explained in an e-mail to the Good Fruit Grower. As of July 1, a senior executive from Agriculture Canada is based in British Columbia to help strengthen knowledge and technology transfer to the tree fruit industry. Girard said there would be minor changes to staffing levels at Summerland and the other Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre at Agassiz. With automatic hours calculation right on the card, the MJR-7000 saves you time AND money every day. Come in today and learn how you can control your labor costs with an Amano time clock. 310 E. Chestnut, Yakima, WA 98901 509-453-7115 q 800-327-9198 Serving Central Washington for over 100 Years www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER JULY 2012 37