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Citrus Group Sues Feds Over Lift Of Argentine Lemon Ban

Lemon tree.
(Photo courtesy of Pixabay)
Lemon tree.

Last week Argentine lemons were allowed back into the U.S. market and a group representing Arizona and California citrus growers is suing the feds to keep the ban in place.

Argentine lemons had been banned to keep citrus pests and disease out of the states.

The Obama administration planned to lift the ban, but President Trump put a sixty day stay on that decision. In May, Trump agreed to allow the lemon imports into the U.S.

Arizona citrus farmers were surprised and disappointed about the decision, and now the U.S. Citrus Science Council, which includes lemon growers here, is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The lawsuit argues the government did not thoroughly and scientifically consider the pest and disease risks in allowing the South American citrus back into the country.

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Casey Kuhn was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2015 to 2019.