The USDA has drafted a pest risk assessment for the importation of fresh asparagus under a systems approach from Peru.
The assessment describes potential pests associated with the commodity. Currently, Peru has U.S. access for green asparagus with mandatory fumigation, according to a news release.
Peru is already a big supplier of asparagus to the U.S., with the value of exports to the U.S. reported by the USDA at $271 million in 2021, up 5% from $261 million in 2020.
The USDA shares draft pest risk assessments and pest lists to determine whether stakeholders have information that might lead the agency to revise the draft assessment before they identify pest mitigations and proceed with the commodity import approval process, the release said.
The draft pest risk assessment for fresh asparagus will be available for review and comment until August 8 and can be viewed on the USDA website.
