North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jwlehman@aol.com]

In a message dated 2/25/2004 10:15:22 PM US Eastern Standard Time, ling.mark@msa.hinet.net writes:

> I'm curious: "brought through quarantine" means ... what?


As you likely know one can't just bring in plant material into the US without breaking the law. It is believed the Sharka virus got into the US by someone not following the law that is costing taxpayers millions to eradicate. Another example is the insect destroying day lilies in Florida and spreading rapidly came in by someone illegally bringing in bulbs. Depending on what is being brought in and whether seed or budwood, there are definite steps and procedures to follow. It is impossible to cover the entire subject here completely. The regulations is about 50 pages.  

All Prunus except P. cerasus (sour cherry) can not be brought in unless:
1. The importer has an import permit issued by the USDA.
2. It has a Phytosanitary Certificate from the country being imported from.
3. It goes to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for inspection. 
4. It then goes to Beltsville, outside Washington, DC, where it is grown in screened
    greenhouses, virus indexed and must be clean for typically two years. Once found
     to be clean it is released.     

Regarding sour cherry the importer of seeds must have the permit and the seeds must have the Phytosanitary, and be inspected by APHIS. Then, I think, they must be in quarantine by the importer for two years. 

These plums were brought in from Russia and have cleared all the steps. 

Jerry