Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Dr. André Gordon (left) President of Jamaica Exporters Association converses with Denyse Perkins, President of Jamaica Agro Processors Association during a press briefing on the performance of the export sector and the re-entry of ackees to the U.S. market at Hotel Four Seasons yesterday. - RudolphBrown/Chief Photographer

JAMAICA'S ackee export market, which has been put on hold since last December when American officials discovered inferior product in three states, may be back in operation as early as October, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said yesterday.

Mr. Clarke was speaking at a Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA) press conference at the Hotel Four Seasons in St. Andrew.

"I don't want to set a date but based on discussions I have had with André (Gordon, president of the JEA), I expect that within a month we will be exporting to the U.S.," he said.

Full weight of the law

The minister also declared that once the green light is given by local authorities, delinquent "exporters" will feel the full weight of the law. "Anyone caught going against the rules and regulations should be treated as a pariah and expunged from the system, because that is the only way to really live up to what is expected of us," Mr. Clarke said.

Several cases of tinned ackee from Jamaica were rejected by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) nine months ago. The USFDA said the fruit contained high levels of hypoglycin. They said this takes place when the ackee is not allowed to ripen properly. The USFDA said the products were identified in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Mr. Gordon's Technological Solutions Limited (TSL) was commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct a series of tests at ackee processing plants across the island, and assess their production methods.

Using diagrams to illustrate his research, Mr. Gordon said there were numerous cases of "force ripe" ackees leaving Jamaica. "The stripping of ackees from trees and force ripening of the fruit has to some extent been curtailed and most of the plants are trying to ensure that they don't buy ackees that fall in that category," he said. "The plants have to implement stricter procedures to ensure that they consistently eliminate these products."

Jamaica resumed ackee exports to the U.S. in 2000 after a 27-year break. The Agriculture Minister reports that the market earns J$400 million annually.