MCALLEN, TX — The forthcoming America Trades Produce Conference is shaping up to be a truly unique and remarkable program focused on the real issues affecting fruit and vegetable trade between the two countries, according to Jaime Chamberlain of J-C Distributing, Inc., chairman of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in Nogales, AZ. The conference will be held March 30 through April 1 in McAllen, TX.
“Anybody that has a business interest in the U.S.- Mexico produce industry should be at this conference, whether they’re growers, shippers, importers, brokers, marketers, or allied industry members. “I can think of no significant aspect of business between the two countries that isn’t identified and put under the microscope at this meeting,” Chamberlain said. The conference is cohosted by the Nogales association and the Texas Produce Association, headquartered in Mission, TX.
The business program will kick off with an overview of produce trade featuring Dr. Islam Siddiqui, chief White House negotiator for agriculture, and Lic. Gabriel Padilla Maya, General Coordinator for Trade Promotion and Export for ASERCA.
They will be followed during the next two days by a series of workshops on such timely subjects as recent developments in food safety, the growing challenge of port congestion, the future of the tomato suspension agreement, answering negative myths about the safety of Mexican produce, emerging technology that is changing the face of growing fruits and vegetables, the risk and response to pest threats in a global marketplace, and the tools available to get sellers paid when there are disputes.
“We’ve put a great deal of time and attention into choosing the most important and pertinent topics, even when they are controversial, and then finding speakers with genuine expertise in those subjects,” said Texas Produce Association Chairman Trent Bishop of Lone Star Citrus Growers. “We have worked closely with the Mexican industry and government to ensure a multinational view throughout the program.”
In addition to the workshops, there will be tours of the Pharr-Reynosa port of entry, local shippers, and new Rio Grande Valley cold storage/cross-docking facilities. There will also be general sessions on Safety and Security: Doing Business in Unsettled Times; Food Safety: The Toughest Issue of All; and
The U.S./Mexico Relationship: It’s Complicated.
Of special interest will be a breakfast featuring Mexican celebrity chef Illiana de la Vega and moderator Amy Myrdal Miller, both from the world famous Culinary Institute of America. They will address the difficult issue of observing a sound diet and still enjoying food—and of course, the emphasis will be on produce with a Mexican flavor.
“It’s still nearly six weeks until the conference, and we’re pleased with the feedback we’re received from industry members who understand what we’re trying to accomplish and who are looking forward to being in McAllen,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. “The more the better.”
“I’m not sure this industry realizes just how big and important it is,” said TPA president John McClung. “The fact is, some 50 percent of the fruit and 25 percent of the vegetables consumed in the U.S. are imported, and the overwhelming bulk of that comes from Mexico. People in this industry need to develop a broad perspective if they hope to succeed long term, and they need to work together to pursue common interests. This conference is the perfect tool to do that.”
“We view the event as a three-way networking opportunity,” Jungmeyer said. “Firstly, Mexican growers will be able to meet potential distributors for their produce. Secondly, private industry will have the chance to voice concerns to governments. Finally, it will put the U.S. and Mexican governments in the same room, discussing how to meet the common goal of encouraging more commerce.”
For more information on the program, hotel accommodations, transportation and registration, see the web site at www.americatradesproduce.com.
Source: Fresh Produce Association of the Americas and Texas Produce Association