Hirono Hails USDA Lifting Bad on Shipping Hawaii Avocados to Mainland

Press Release

Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced today the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will lift a ban on Hawaii Sharwil avocado shipments to the mainland. Earlier this year, Hirono wrote and sent a letter -- signed by Hawaii's congressional delegation -- urging the USDA to lift its 1992 ban, arguing that numerous scientific studies have found that the avocados prove to be a very poor host for the fruit flies USDA is trying to prevent from coming to the mainland. Since sending the letter, Hirono has worked closely with avocado farmers, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and the USDA to lobby for the ruling.

"This USDA ruling will directly benefit Hawaii farmers and our economy," said Hirono. "The new rule -- advocated by Hawaii's congressional delegation since 1992 -- will finally allow our local producers to sell avocados to the mainland, opening up a number of new markets for these delicious, Hawaii-grown products. Advancing local food has long been a cornerstone of my push to make our state and economy more sustainable, and I am very appreciative the USDA has made this critical ruling."

The 1992 discovery of invasive oriental fruit fly larvae in an avocado packing house in Hawaii led the USDA to institute a shipping ban on Hawaii's Sharwil avocados unless shipments underwent extreme measures that destroyed the quality of the product. Since the ban went into effect, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Hawaii avocado growers and the Congressional delegation have sought to repeal the ban, setting up multiple safeguards to prevent the spread of the fruit flies. In response to the request of the late Senator Inouye, the USDA convened two science panels in 2004 and 2005 bringing together the best science and scientists to reexamine shipping protocols. These studies clearly demonstrated Hawaii Sharwil avocados were poor hosts for oriental fruit flies and therefore did not deserve the extreme shipping protocols enforced by the USDA.

Known for its unique, buttery taste, Sharwil avocados are produced on approximately 280 Hawaii farms, primarily on Hawaii Island. Prior to the shipping ban, Hawaii's Sharwil avocados were expected to effectively compete with imported foreign avocados, due to the fruit's quality and early growing season. It is expected Hawaii avocado farmers will begin shipping their product to the mainland later this fall.

Source