Hirono Praises Lifting of Ban on Hawaiʻi Avocado Shipments

Guacamole. File photo by Vanessa Wolf.

By Wendy Osher

US Senator Mazie Hirono hailed the passage USDA’s decision to lift a ban on Hawaiʻi Sharwil avocado shipments to the mainland.

The ban has been in place for more than 20 years when an invasive fruit fly larvae was found in a packing house in 1992, according to Sen. Hirono.

Since then, officials say multiple safeguards were implemented to prevent the spread of the fruit fly.

According to information released by Sen. Hirono, scientific studies also showed that the Hawaiʻi avocados were poor hosts for the fruit flies, and therefore did not deserve the extreme shipping protocols.

“Known for its unique, buttery taste, Sharwil avocados are produced on approximately 280 Hawaii farms, primarily on Hawaiʻi Island,” said Sen. Hirono in a media statement.

Officials say shipments of the Hawaiʻi Sharwil avocados are expected to commence to the mainland later this fall.