U.S. Growers Want to Stop Argentine Citrus Imports

Group cites risk of disease and pests in its effort to have Department of Agriculture reverse new policy.

Citrus growers announced Wednesday that they intend to file a lawsuit aimed at overturning a federal decision to allow Argentine citrus to be imported into the United States.

The Santa Paula-based U.S. Citrus Science Council, which has spearheaded the fight against the importation of Argentine citrus, notified U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Richard Rominger of the intent to file suit in coming weeks.

The Department of Agriculture last month approved regulations allowing Argentine fruit to be imported in phases over the next four years, beginning with this summer’s shipping season.

Under the new policy, fruit will be allowed into 34 states immediately, and after two years into 10 states that border citrus producers. Only after four years will Argentina be allowed to ship lemons directly into the five citrus-producing states, including California and Arizona.

The federal government “for the first time is allowing products to be shipped into the U.S. from known disease- and pest-infested areas,” said Pierre Tada, co-chairman of the council and president of Limoneira Co., the county’s largest citrus grower.

“We feel very seriously that this is a potential risk to all of agriculture,” he said. “We would like the USDA not to cross over the line into this new policy area.”