The United States will allow imports of fresh blueberries from Uruguay and South Africa, the Department of Agriculture said on Monday. A new rule from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will permit the cold-treated fresh fruit into US markets, APHIS said in a statement. The cold treatment is designed to ward off plant pests.
Blueberry shipments from those countries will be accepted immediately, said Melissa O'Dell, an APHIS spokeswoman.