Dive Brief:

• The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said officials in China have agreed to a new, supplementary safety protocol for California citrus.
• The protocol would require California growers to take a number of steps, including harvesting only fruit that is at least 20 inches off the ground, to prevent the spread of phytophthora syringae, known as brown rot. 
• Detection of brown rot in a in shipments bound for China led to a suspension of California citrus imports by that nation in April of last year. 

Dive Insight:

There hasn't been a lot of good news for citrus growers of late, so it's nice to learn that the USDA has, apparently, been able to negotiate a deal with China to protect exports.

But "apparently" is the key word. The deal is not yet finalized. And it's worth noting that a deal seemed to be at hand as far back as November.