After a successful launch of the America Trades Produce Conference, organizers are planning a vibrant educational and networking program that will get at the heart of issues that affect the importation of Mexican fruits and vegetables.
The Texas Produce Association and the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas have announced that America Trades Produce 2012 will be held March 21-23, 2012, at the Tubac Golf Resort in Southern Arizona, just miles away from the distributing hub of Nogales, Ariz.
Following the success of America Trades Produce 2011 in McAllen, Texas, the next installment will also feature a tour of the local port of entry, and a dynamic range of guest speakers from both government and industry.
“When we partnered with FPAA for the America Trades Produce conference, our goal was to show how there are shared issues at Southwest border crossings all the way from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean,” said John McClung, President of Texas Produce Association, which is based in McAllen. “We welcomed 300 people to the conference in McAllen, and we’re hoping to exceed the success in Nogales.”
That sentiment is seconded by Lance Jungmeyer, President of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Nogales, who emphasized that the conference will feature a strong food safety component.
“As the U.S. works to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, one of the first areas of emphasis is at the border,” Jungmeyer said. “The FDA and its counterparts in Mexico are diligently working to successfully prepare the produce industry for compliance, and we will update the industry on these developments.”
One session at the event will highlight findings from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce study, “Steps to a 21st Century U.S./Mexico Border.” Released in June, the study makes numerous suggestions to help streamline commerce and tear away bureaucratic red-tape between the two important trading partners.
A key takeaway for visitors at ATP 2011 was the tour of the Pharr-Reynosa Port of Entry. At ATP 2012, attendees will have the chance to register for a March 21 tour of the Mariposa Port of Entry, which is undergoing a massive renovation that will make it the flagship land port of entry in the United States when it opens in 2014.
The $200 million port renovation will include an increase from four commercial lanes to eight, and the facility will be powered in part by solar energy. Attendees of ATP will learn how infrastructure improvements at the border entry should help facilitate trade, as well as enhance security.
“The West Mexico produce deal should be in full swing next March,” said Jaime Chamberlain, Chairman of FPAA and President of Nogales-based J-C Distributing Inc. “We are looking forward to show buyers the incredible amount of volume that crosses our border here in Arizona. At the time, the industry will probably be crossing more than 1,000 trucks of produce a day.”
"We learned a great deal at last year's conference about what the industry wants and needs from this event," said TPA Chairman Trent Bishop. "Based on that, we're planning a convention in Nogales that gives the participants real take home value, whether they're grower/shippers in Mexico or receivers in the U.S. We see the ATP as a high quality, precisely targeted gathering that helps solve problems, explores new business opportunities, and gives those who attend a heightened level of confidence in their ability to profit from produce trade between our two nations," Bishop said.
Visit www.americatradesproduce.com to learn more about the conference.
Source: Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
