S. Korea eyes tangerine exports to U.S. in 2010

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is pushing to export tangerines to the
United States next year as part of a wider effort to expand the overseas market
for its farm products, the government said Wednesday.
The National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) said it has made headway in talks
with U.S. officials on shipping the citrus fruit to the U.S. after new year.
South Korea currently exports tangerines to Alaska, Guam and Saipan, but not to
the U.S. mainland because of bacterial canker concerns. The bacteria is highly
contagious and can wilt leaves and lower the production of infected fruit plants
and trees.
"Negotiations are in the final stages so a conclusive deal should be reached in
the near future," an official said.
The official added that sales of fruits such as pears, persimmons and grapes --
which are shipped to the U.S. and Taiwan -- grew 30 percent annually for the
January-October period.
Judging by the favorable response from U.S. consumers so far to other South
Korean fruit, tangerines should also do well, he said. Without going into detail,
the official added that talks on selling tomatoes in the U.S. have also made
progress.
The quarantine service, overseen by the agriculture ministry, said South Korea
has held bilateral discussions with China, Brazil and the Philippines on
expanding its market access in the past several months.
Seoul is also seeking to export bell peppers to China, white cabbage to Brazil
and tangerines to the Philippines.
The agriculture ministry hopes that South Korea will achieve its agricultural
export target of $10 billion for 2012, a large jump from the $4.4 billion shipped
out last year, by securing diverse overseas markets.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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