The 10th Annual AMHPAC Congress commenced August 24-25, 2017 at the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico. There were close to 400 participants attending this year’s expo with 50 booths and 61 sponsors contributing to the success of the AMHPAC event. The decade of achievement from this expo and congress has evolved from its inception in 2008.
Alfredo Diaz Belmontes, General Manager of AMHPAC affirms, “This year’s conference objective was to effectively communicate new benefits and services that our team is making available to AMHPAC members that will equip and assist in sustaining their businesses for generations to come.” Diaz adds that AMHPAC’s focus is to host the conference as a platform for participant to network, discover new business opportunities and make new friends within the industry.
“This year’s congress comprised membership goals and services focused on social responsibility and environmental initiatives,” stated Oscar Woltman, President of AMHPAC and General Manager of Fresh Mex. “I consider these especially important goals for the future sustainability and agricultural success of Mexico’s next generations. These initatives proceed from three points: social, market and environment.”
Woltman further explained the three points beginning with the first – social. “The association implemented education and training at farmer levels,” he said. “There have been over 53 AMHPAC company members that have participated in education resulting in over 755 adults and 1,171 children have learned to read and write in Spanish. Second, with respect to market initiatives, many U.S. buying companies are asking for product and farm certifications. AMHPAC members are experienced producers and benefit from the highest level certifications which guarantee quality and volume continuity. Third, environmentally we have concentrated efforts on recycling and leveraging solar energy which will eventually be used for offices and cold storage. We are very optimistic about our collaborations with the Mexican government and promotions throughout the United States will conclude that working together – we’ll take AMHPAC membership to the next level making history and advancing the next generation.”
A snapshot of the conference agenda follows:
- Consumption, productions and regulation trends in North American organic market presented by Tonya Antle, Cofounder of Organic Produce Network (OPN)
- Impact of the NAFTA Renegotiation, presented by Moises Joel Zavaleta Lopez, General Manager Foreign Trade of Assets/Ministry of Economy
- New Markets – Panel Discussion:
Roberto de la Torre Mendivil, President COMCE Chiapas
Jose Antonio Peral Vallejo, Executive Director of Sectorial Development ProMexico
Rosario Antonio Beltran Ureta, Owner at Agricola Belher
Alfredo Diaz Belmontes, General Manager AMHPAC
- Trans-Generational Survival of Agriculture Family Business, presented by Manuel Diaz Salazar, Notary Public, Specialist in Family Business Diaz Salazar y Asociados, S.C.
- Suspension Agreement, presented by Robert LaRussa, Lisa Raisner, Attorneys at Shearman & Sterling LLP; Moderator: Martin Ley, Fresh Evolution
- Analysis of Social and Political Environment to an International Level, presented by Javier Tello, Political Analyst / Speakers Mexico.
Woltman and Diaz, concluded the 10th Annual AMHPAC Congress thanking all participants for their attendance and support of AMHPAC.
Source: AMHPAC
