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USDA SEEKS FREE TRADE, SAFETY BALANCE

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Farming is an increasingly global industry, but the United States still must be on its guard to ensure it keeps tainted produce out of its market, according to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.le of weighing adherence to phytosanitary standards vs. free trade.Mexico has petitioned the USDA to permit Haas avocado imports, long banned for sale in the United States due to inadequate

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- Farming is an increasingly global industry, but the United States still must be on its guard to ensure it keeps tainted produce out of its market, according to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.

le of weighing adherence to phytosanitary standards vs. free trade.

Mexico has petitioned the USDA to permit Haas avocado imports, long banned for sale in the United States due to inadequate pest controls there. Mexican growers say they've gone to great lengths to eradicate pests and that the U.S. ban now amounts to a non-tariff trade barrier. Florida avocado growers, in addition to California Haas growers, have campaigned against dropping the ban.

Glickman said he was open to dropping the ban, if the pesticide issue has been addressed.

"Countries will use bad science to keep us out, but the rules have to work both ways," Glickman told the luncheon gathering of United members, in town for a public policy conference and to lobby Congress on grower issues, such as having the Senate pass Produce Agricultural Commodities Act reform legislation already approved by the House.

"We've had a legitimate ban for years, but we need to look at this to make sure that it is still good, sound science and not just protectionism," Glickman said, noting there isn't a set deadline for ruling on Mexico's petition. "Let's look at the science and see if there is a way to bring them in without damaging our own domestic producers."