2007年VOA标准英语-Indian Fruit Export Arrives in the US

By Rohit Kulkarni
Washington
08 May 2007
 

The U.S. India Business Council in Washington, D.C. played host to the first-ever 'Mango Day' celebrations on the arrival of Indian mangoes to the U.S., after a gap of 18 years. The first mangoes arrived at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. But the big welcome party occurred in the nation's capital. For Hindi TV's Rohit Kulkarni, VOA's Suzanne Presto¹ narrates².

Indian mangoes

It appeared that no one turned down an invitation to sample premium³ varieties of what Indians call the "King of Fruits", the mango. The U.S. Chamber⁴ of Commerce in Washington, D.C. was packed with people waiting to taste Indian mangoes in the United States for the first time in nearly two decades.

India is the world's largest producer of mangoes but had been shut out of the U.S. market because of concerns over mangoes introducing new a pest, the mango seed weevil, into North America.  But U.S. Department of Agriculture officials were able to work out an agreement that allows the import of Indian mangoes that have been irradiated.

Mike Johanns is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. "It just took a while to get this worked out. So I am glad it is done and I am glad the mangoes are here."

Dr. Bhaskar Savani took charge of the first shipment in New York. He has spent the past three years lobbying U.S. officials to allow Indian mangoes into the country. Dr. Savani expects Indian mangoes will be available in U.S. grocery stores by the end of May.

"We are having a number of meetings with the interested grocery shop owners. We will facilitate the distribution process. I hope to make them available for consumers in the next two or three weeks," said Savani.

The arrival of the mangoes may open the door for other Indian fruits to enter the American market.

Susan Schwab is the U.S. Trade Representative. "The benefit for consumers in both countries and farmers in both countries,” she said, “is to eliminate as many trade barriers on both sides as we can and what we have been able to do with mangoes is a great example of that."

President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a historic nuclear energy treaty in 2006.  A sidenote to that agreement allowed the renewed export of Indian mangoes into the United States.

1 presto   

adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的

参考例句：

• With something so important,you can't just wave a wand and presto!在这么重大的问题上，你想挥动一下指挥棒，转眼就变过来,办不到！
• I just turned the piece of wire in the lock and hey presto,the door opened.我把金属丝伸到锁孔里一拧，嘿，那门就开了。

2 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

3 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。