NOGALES, AZ—From analyzing the essential steps to creating a 21st century U.S./Mexico border to surviving the food safety tsunami to touring the shiny new Mariposa port-of-entry, the second annual America Trades Produce Conference March 21-23 in Nogales is a can’t-miss event.
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas and the Texas Produce Association are teaming up once again to bring the most timely, informative educational sessions available anywhere covering issues of immediate concern to cross-border trade in fresh fruits and vegetables. Experts from the private sector and government in Mexico and the U.S. will address such wide-ranging subjects as traceability, truck security, protected agriculture, the agony of a food safety outbreak, best production and shipping practices, working with custom brokers, lessons learned from the papaya episode, pest exclusion, recent developments surrounding insurance coverage, and congestion at the ports.
Regarding congestion, an important session will unveil results from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce study “Steps to a 21st Century U.S.-Mexico Border.” Chamber representatives have been invited to participate in an interactive panel that will include other border stakeholders. The study makes several recommendations to improve border commerce, including:
— Engagement of the Private Sector to Improve Supply Chain Security and Trade Facilitation;
— Investment in infrastructure—today’s infrastructure was developed for a bygone era;
–Provide needed staffing increases and facility upgrades;
–Fund efforts for nonintrusive inspections to minimize damage to products;
–Measure border wait times and base staffing on demand;
–Concentrate staffing increases at POE’s;
–Reform CBP funding streams to recognize the increased burden of security-driven activities and the strain they place on CBP trade functions.
“There are some common sense solutions to making commerce flow at the border. Unfortunately, there is a lack of common sense when it comes to Washington, DC’s approach to the ports of entry, be they in Texas, Arizona or California,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer.” As a co-sponsor of the study, the FPAA is pleased to bring this information to the attendees of the ATP Conference.
“At the first ATP Conference a year ago, our two associations focused to bringing registrants the best speakers and most information dense sessions we possibly could,” said Texas Produce Association President John McClung. “I have yet to talk to anyone who attended who didn’t think they got their money’s worth and more. But we learned from that first event, and we anticipate an even better conference this year. The produce trade between the U.S. and Mexico continues to expand rapidly, but there are always problems along the way and we’ll take a hard look at those problems and what we can do to minimize them. And we’ll have fun while we’re at it,” he said.
For additional information contact Lance Jungmeyer at FPAA (520 287 2707) or John McClung at TPA (956 581 8632), or visit www.americatradesproduce.com.
Source: America Trades Produce Conference