APHIS active in seminars on post harvest technology, citrus
and veterinary accreditation
U.S. Embassy representatives disseminate
information to Uruguayan agriculture specialists and veterinarians.
November 20, 2003
Dr. Elizabeth Mitcham, specialist
in post harvest biology and technology of fresh fruits.
Dr. Adel Kader, fruit quality
and safety specialist
Fruit
Post Harvest Training Course.
The Farm Developing Program (PREDEG) from the Uruguayan
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MGAP),
organized a Fruit Post Harvest Course. Dr. Adel Kader and
Dr. Elizabeth Mitcham from the Post Harvest Technology and
Research Center, University of California (Davis), were
the invited instructors. Dr. Kader specializes in the quality
and safety of fruits as influenced by controlled/modified
atmospheres, while Dr. Mitcham focuses on post-harvest biology
and technology of fresh fruits. The training course included:
maintenance of the post-harvest cold chain, integrated pest
management, controlled and modified atmosphere, food safety,
and post harvest physiology and management among others.
Over 50 professionals from Uruguay and Argentina followed
the lectures with great interest. US Embassy in Montevideo
provided the equipment for translation and APHIS helped
to organize the course.
Veterinary Accreditation Seminar.
On Nov. 10, Theresa Boyle, USDA-APHIS-IS in Uruguay, spoke
on the US National Veterinary Accreditation Program during
the seminar titled, “Accreditation of Private Veterinarians
in Official Sanitary Campaigns – the Experience of
Chile, United States and Mexico”. Uruguay is developing
a veterinary accreditation program and wanted input from
countries that already have programs in place.
Citrus
Lunch.
On Nov. 13, the USDA-APHIS-IS office in Uruguay and the
US Embassy organized a lunch meeting to discuss citrus phytosanitary
and trade issues. US Ambassador Martin J. Silverstein, Theresa
Boyle and Ricardo Romero, USDA-APHIS-IS, Bruce McEvoy, president
of Seald Sweet, a U.S. firm, Richard Fort, chairman of the
board of Seald Sweet, Robert Benia and Ines Ares from the
Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, and representatives
from various Uruguayan Citrus Companies and Cooperatives
participated in this meeting.
