Containers of Canadian trees arrive in Panama

Three vessels with Christmas treesof more than 40 registered, they have already arrived in the country, it was confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The containers arrived at the port of Manzanillo, in Colón. Most of the Christmas trees come from Canada and the rest from the United States.

Luis Benavides, Deputy Director of Agricultural Quarantine at MIDA, indicated that about 40 containers have been officially registered for this year to date, but that the annual average is in the range of 90 to 100 containers.

Benavides added that agricultural quarantine workers inspect the food to confirm its quality and that it does not come with insects.

As soon as the containers arrive on the national territory, the process begins inspection based on samplingin accordance with the regulations relating to it.

During the inspection, containers are selected at random using an electronic system. For example, out of 10 containers, 4 will be inspected at the port of Manzanillo.

The process involves shaking selected seedlings, one at a time, on plastic in search of quarantine insects or pests.

Companies that send trees to Panama are part of the controls of the ministries of agriculture of the countries of origin, which guarantee that the requirements are correctly met.

The tank can have between 500 and 600 Christmas trees depending on the size.

The official stated that these trees will be available for sale in stores in the following days.