AREA FARMS LEAD FIGHT VS. IMPORTS; CITRUS GROWERS FEAR CROP BLIGHT.Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer In an effort to fend off Verb 1. fend off - prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert a strike" deflect, forefend, forfend, head off, avert, stave off, ward off, avoid, debar, obviate a possible invasion of citrus citrus Any of the plants that make up the genus Citrus, in the rue family, that yield pulpy fruits covered with fairly thick skins. The genus includes the lemon, lime, sweet and sour oranges, tangerine, grapefruit, citron, and shaddock (C. maxima, or C. grandis; also called pomelo). and pests from Argentina, Ventura County is spearheading a major effort to protect the county's most valuable crop. Lemon growers plan to raise $350,000 for research and lobbying efforts to stave off stave n. 1. A narrow strip of wood forming part of the sides of a barrel, tub, or similar structure. 2. A rung of a ladder or chair. 3. A staff or cudgel. 4. Music See staff1. a proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that would allow Argentine citrus imports into the country. ``The heart of the nation's lemon industry is in Ventura County,'' said Joel Nelsen, president of California Citrus Mutual, an industry trade association. ``This is huge. The memory (of a possible Medfly quarantine quarantine (kwŏr`əntēn), isolation of persons, animals, places, and effects that carry or are suspected of harboring communicable disease. ) is still very fresh in their minds.'' Last month, USDA USDA, n.pr See United States Department of Agriculture. officials released a proposed rule to allow importation of citrus from some areas of the country that Argentine officials say are free of citrus canker citrus canker n. A destructive bacterial disease of citrus plants that attacks seedlings and mature plants and causes defoliation and death. , the Mediterranean fruit fly Mediterranean fruit fly: see fruit fly. Mediterranean fruit fly or Med fly Fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) proven to be particularly destructive to citrus crops, at great economic cost. , and other pests and diseases. ``Argentine citrus-producing areas are known to be home for Medfly, citrus canker, black spot, citrus scab and other exotic pests,'' said Pierre Tada, president of Limoneira. ``While the USDA proposal seemingly limits the opportunities for pest and disease introductions, the industry needs time to determine the efficacy of the risk and subsequent mitigating protocols presented by USDA. The proposal was a surprise and the time frame for comments is too short.'' Local growers hope to convince federal officials to delay implementation of the rule until Argentine claims can be independently studied, Nelsen said. Although production costs are significantly lower in Argentine, California growers are worried about pests - not foreign competition, said Nelson. Australia, Spain, Israel and Morocco currently export citrus to this country. The Department of Agriculture is expected to make a decision on the Argentine imports next spring. If approved, the rule would likely go into effect next spring. Last year, Ventura County produced $217 million in lemons, the county's most valuable crop. |
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