Spotlight Stories

UCCE and the International Trade of Ornamental Plants

Ornamental growers (including many from San Diego) want to increase the exportation of ornamental plants to Central and South America. Pest Risk Assessments (PRA’s) must go through numerous reviews by the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and may not be accepted by the receiving country.

UCCE is the expert when it comes to pest management and pest risk and assisted a local grower – Obra Verde Growers in Valley Center – with the creation of a PRA. Working with Agricultural Weights and Measures (AWM), we completed the PRA which was approved by our USDA and Guatemala’s Agricultural Department. Two contracts now exist between the local grower and Guatemala – the first one for 200,000 bare root Leucadendrons worth $2.50 each.

Interested in doing something similar? Give us a call at 858-822-7711.