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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Pest-infested vegetables entered U.S.
  • Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:44:44 -0600


http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/07/21/Pest-infested_vegetables_entered_US/UPI-14831216662236/

Pest-infested vegetables entered U.S.
Published: July 21, 2008 at 1:43 PM
LAREDO, Texas, July 21 (UPI) -- A Texas conspiracy case involving
pest-infested vegetables from Mexico threatens to further damage U.S.
agriculture, industry officials say.

The case involves three inspectors for the U.S. Department of Agriculture who
are accused of allowing truckloads of infested vegetables and flowers to
enter the United States without proper fumigation, the Houston Chronicle
reported Monday.

The alleged scheme went on for three years and ended in April when the
defendants were arrested.

"It's a big deal," Ray Prewett, vice president of the Texas Vegetable
Association, told the Chronicle. "We find this to be disturbing and we are
concerned about what the implications are."

The lack of fumigation could have decimated dozens of Texas agricultural
industries, government and industry officials say.

One of the inspectors charged in the case, Rafael Edmundo Melo Jr., died of a
self-inflicted gunshot wound in April, one day after he appeared in court on
a 15-count indictment.

Also a defendant in the case is the owner of a Laredo, Texas, pest control
company who faces charges of improperly billing Mexican exporters for
fumigation services, the chronicle said.





  • [Livingontheland] Pest-infested vegetables entered U.S., Tradingpost, 07/22/2008

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