The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“LET'S DON'T RISK THE AVOCADO INDUSTRY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E130 on Feb. 1, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
LET'S DON'T RISK THE AVOCADO INDUSTRY
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HON. RON PACKARD
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, January 31, 1996
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, growers in my district produce the most and the best avocados in the world. In order to ensure that we remain competitive we need to make sure our crops remain the best in the world.
For that reason, I rise to urge the USDA to stop the rulemaking process that would modify the quarantine on Mexican Hass avocados. I ask Secretary Glickman, to prevent a rule from going forward which risks the entire avocado industry, especially when there is so much disagreement about the quality of the science underlying the USDA's determination.
As a member of the appropriations Committee, I worked with my colleagues to address this issue in the fiscal year 1996 agriculture appropriations legislation. The bill, which the President signed into law back in October, expects the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use scientifically credible pest risk assessment and risk management before lifting the current quarantine on Mexican avocados.
During the appropriations process, we asked for the USDA to conduct an independent review of the science. Unfortunately, the Secretary turned us down and suggested that the avocado industry take the lead in this regard.
The Center for Exotic Pest Research at the University of California at Riverside reviewed the proposed rule and published an extremely troubling report. Their findings were strikingly different from those of the USDA and give me great cause for concern. UC Riverside found, and I quote:
The proposed rule's risk assessment contains undocumented assertions, highly questionable estimates, and improper methodology, and as a result, we find it to be invalid.
Free trade is the engine that drives a vibrant economy. I know that growers in my district will compete against any avocado grower in the world. However, the UC Riverside report gives credence to their fears that Mexican avocados coming across the border could carry infestation that could spread throughout the country. I certainly don't believe Secretary Glickman wants to usher in another disaster like the Mediterranean fruit fly.
I think it just makes sense to learn our lesson and take a cautious approach. I urge the Secretary to listen to the experts at UC Riverside and craft a rule that does not put the American avocado industry at risk.
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