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November 18, 2009 15:48 PM

South Korea Eyes Tangerine Exports To United States In 2010

SEOUL, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- 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, Yonhap news agency cited the government as saying Wednesday.

The tangerine (Citrus - tangerina) is an orange-coloured citrus fruit. It is a variety of the Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata). Tangerines are smaller than most oranges, and the skin of some varieties will peel off more easily. The taste is often less sour, or tart, than that of an orange.

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, Yonhap said.

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, adding that South Korea also engage in talks on selling tomatoes to the United States.

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 US$10 billion for 2012, a large jump from the US$4.4 billion shipped out last year, by securing diverse overseas markets.

-- BERNAMA

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