WASHINGTON, March 27, 2013 – Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who is a newly appointed member of President Obama’s Export Council, today urged Obama to exempt bulk shipments of apples to Canada from double inspection.
In a letter to Obama, Gillibrand said that fixing this would help apple growers streamline operations and save money. Exempting bulk shipments of U.S. apples to Canada from double inspection required by the Apple and Pear Export Act would offer growers immediate savings of approximately $300 per truckload, and allow growers to create their own distribution schedules, eliminating costly after-hours inspection procedures, she said.
“New York State is home to some of the world’s best apples and hardest working growers,” Gillibrand said. “Our farmers play a vital role in the economic development and food security of the state. The double inspection of our apples to Canada is an impediment to New York apple exporters. The elimination of the expensive and unnecessary second inspection would put money back in our local growers’ pockets.”
The law requires that all exported apples are inspected. However, pears have been excluded from the law since 1999. The elimination of apples from this law would enable apple farmers to have more control over their work schedules and would eliminate expensive after-hours inspection procedures, she said.
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