Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a newly appointed member of the President’s Export Council, today urged the President to exempt bulk shipments of apples to Canada from double inspection. Fixing this would help New York apple growers streamline operations and save money. Exempting bulk shipments of U.S. apples to Canada from double inspection required by the Apple 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.
“New York State is home to some of the world’s best apples and hardest working growers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “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 Apple and Pear Export Act of 1933 requires that all exported apples are inspected. However, pears have been excluded from the law since 1999. The elimination of apples from this antiquated law would enable apple farmers to have more control over their work schedules and would eliminate expensive after-hours inspection procedures.
Last year, 1.5 million bushels of New York apples were exported to Canada. Eliminating the double inspection method would save New York apple exporters $450,000 annually and speed up the global exportation process for more than 500,000 bushels of New York apples. New York is the second highest producer of apples, behind Washington State. In 2010, New York produced 1.26 billion pounds of apples, generating approximately $227 million in revenue.
Senator Gillibrand’s letter is attached.