Nearly 400 People Participate In AMHPAC's Annual Convention

In the 8th. Edition of this major event from the national organization, mostly growers from Sinaloa, Jalisco, State of Mexico and Guanajuato attended this event, who witnessed the extensive relationship and business generation fostered in this forum held in Puerto Vallarta on August 28-28.

In the same manner, over 50 supplying companies of inputs and services were gathered, that are mostly part of the AMHPAC’s membership and who had customer service modules within the Convention’s commercial area, which was very popular this year, having the most important produce growers in Mexico.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony was attended by important industry personalities that were part of the Presidium:

Eng. Jorge Kondo López, Agriculture Director (SAGARPA); Mr. Sergio Ramirez, Representative of the Governor in Jalisco; Mr. Hector Rodrigo Hernández Rodríguez, General Manager of Industrias Ligeras (representing the Secretary of Economy, Mr. Ildefonso Guajardo); Dr. Luis Alberto Ibarra Pardo, General Manager of FOCIR and Manuel Hernández Gabilondo, President of the AgroBaja Board.

Conferences

Without a doubt, schemes were broken this time; thanks to the strong participation of attendees and the conference program that included the subjects of: Organic Agriculture US Food Safety Modernization Act, the impact of consumer knowledge in the produce production business, sustainable agriculture, knot nematode management, climate change, tomato sorting according to quality, Internal Magic: Secrets Revealed, Social Responsibility, Assurance in Protected Horticulture and Analysis of the socioeconomic and political environment of the country.

The first-class speakers we had this year are:

• Erica Renaud – Vitalis Organic Seeds
• Tirzo Paúl Godoy Angulo – Faculty of Agronomy of UAS
• Manuel Báez Zañudo             – CIAD Culiacán
• Jorge Ramírez Laugerud – SCS Global Services
• Rafael Gamboa González – FIRA
• Ciro Gómez Leyva  – Radio Fórmula/Speakers México
• Francisco Rodríguez Noguerón  – Syngenta
• Greg Komar – NSF Agriculture
• Victor Castañeda – IMAGIC Group
• Florencio Romaguera – Idai Nature, S.L.
• Alen Reese  – Aweta
• Silvia Rojas – SENASICA
• Matt Mandel – SunFed
• Alfredo Villanueva – MAPFRE
• Horacio Pérez – Munich Re
• Enrique Rodríguez Estrada – General de Seguros S.A. B.
• Lauro Bajaras Arteaga  – AXA Seguros México
• Eng.  Antonio Rodríguez Hernández – Productora Agrícola Industrial del Noroeste S.A de C.V.
• Jason Witcher – Mastronardi
• Theojary Crisantes Enciso – Cris-P Greenhouses S.A. de C.V.
• Martín Ley  – AHIFORES

Renewal of the AMHPAC’s National Board of Directors

On August 28, during the General Ordinary Meeting of this organization, the AMHPAC’s Board of Directors was renewed, being for the period 2015-2016 as follows:

• President.- Juan Ariel Reyes Rábago – Invernaderos Potosinos S.A. de C.V.- San Luis Potosí.
• Vice-President (VP).- Javier López Ruffo  – Agricultura Controlada S.A. de C.V.- Sinaloa. 
• Secretary.- Oscar Woltman de Vries – Hortinvest México S.A. de C.V.- Querétaro.
• Treasurer- Cesar Campaña Acosta -Campaña Agricultores S. de R.L. de C.V., Sinaloa.
• Associate Advisor.- Félix Tarrats Zirión – Centro de Investigación y Capacitación Koppert Rappel S.A. de C.V. (CEICKOR).- Querétaro. 
• Associate Advisor.- Eduardo Leyson Castro – Agricultores de San Isidro S.A. de C.V., Sinaloa. 
• Associate Advisor.- Antonio Rodríguez Hernández – Productora Agrícola Industrial del Noroeste S.A. de C.V.- Baja California.  
• Associate Advisor – Diego Ley López – Del Campo y Asociados S.A. de C.V.- Sinaloa. 
• Associate Advisor.- Jesús Martín Dorantes Miranda – AgroDesert S.P.R. de R.L. de C.V.- Coahuila.
• Associate Advisor.-Antonio David Garza Rodríguez – Hydroponic Green Valley Produce S.A. de C.V.- Nuevo León.

4ta Trade Mission

It is important to note that one of the most successful activities was, without a doubt, the performance of the 4th. Trade Mission, where 61 meetings were held between produce growers and marketers mostly from the US and Canada, including:

1. Westmoreland / TopLine Farms (Leamington ON, Canada)
2. Triple H (Pharr TX, USA)
3. Marengo Foods (Dallas TX, USA)
4. Del Fresco Produce (Kingsville ON, Canada)
5. McAllen Produce (Woodlands TX, USA)
6. SunFed (Nogales AZ, USA)
7. Sunset Mastronardi (Leamington ON, Canada)
8. Wholesum Family Farms (Nogales AZ, USA)
9. Jetro – Restaurant Depot (College Point NY, USA)
10. Star Produce US (Nogales AZ, USA)
11. Loblaw (Brampton ON, Canada)
12. Ola Technologies (Los Angeles CA, USA)
13. Burnac Produce (Vaughan ON, Canada)
14. Lake Side Produce (Leamigton ON, Canada)
15. Tricar (Nogales AZ, USA)
16. Limex Sicar  (Mission TX, USA)
17. Greenhouse Produce Company (GPC) (Vero Beach FL, USA)

Business Tables

In the same manner, business tables with representatives of banking institutions such as Scotiabank, Banco del Bajío, Santander and HSBC were held for the first time, as well as recreational activities regarding the event, where networking relations were fostered.

70s & 80s Disco Night

As a recreational activity, a Networking dinner was held, where most of the event attendees had the opportunity to socialize, by participating in singing and dancing battles of the best hits of disco times, where winners received prizes awarded by our sponsors.

2nd AMHPAC Race

This time, the race had over 70 people participating in two categories: 5 and 10K, the race was held on Thursday August 27, to kick off the event works in Parque Lineal of Puerto Vallarta.

The winners were:

10 K.- Homero Ontiveros (from Meister Media/Produce Growers)

5 K.- Paris Rico (From Horti Connect)

A Trip on a Pirate Boat

For a great closing of the works carried out over two days, on Friday August 28, about 100 growers and sponsors embarked along with the pirate crew on board of the Marigalante, where they enjoyed a delicious dinner, interactive themed show and a splendid fireworks show; and they also took the opportunity to socialize with colleagues and strengthen ties with the contacts they made there.

By this means, we express our gratefulness to all attendees and look forward to seeing you next year.

Source: Asociación Mexicana de Horticultura Protegida A.C. (AMHPAC)