West Mexico distributors hope for the best from new administration
Some distributors of West Mexico produce are more optimistic about a Joe Biden presidency than others, but no one seems dejected over the change in administrations.
Scott Vandervoet, who handles sales for Vandervoet & Associates Inc., Rio Rico, Ariz., said he thinks the change bodes well at the Washington, D.C-Mexico City level.
“I think it brings a degree of certainty to the relationship,” he said.
“Diplomats and bureaucrats who are familiar with the way the Obama administration operated will have some sense of bearing with the Biden presidency,” he said.
He cited the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue launched in 2013 by presidents Barack Obama and Enrique Peña Nieto that addressed job creation and other factors important for economic growth.
Communication and mutual respect are important, Vandervoet added.
“While we’re focused on trade and commerce, we live in the border region, and our families live here,” he said.
“I’m happy that there was a campaign that didn’t try to use scare tactics related to Mexico and that didn’t try to denigrate Mexico and the Mexican people.”
Brian Bernauer, director of tomato sales and operations for Nogales, Ariz.-based Calavo Growers Inc., said a strategic shift in trade negotiations may be coming.
“I think you’re going to have an administration that is going to be more amicable in their negotiating and, if history repeats itself, a little bit less antagonistic on trade,” he said. “Especially with direct neighbors.”
Manny Gerardo, salesman for Nogales-based Bernardi & Associates Inc., wasn’t sure what impact Biden’s election will have on trade over the long haul, but he was concerned about how the new president might respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
If Biden shuts down the country — even for two weeks — to fight the pandemic, it would affect Bernardi & Associates and all the other distributors, Gerardo said.
“If that happens, our business goes to nothing,” he said.
Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Nogales-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said he expected to see “fewer provocative actions in terms of claims of anti-dumping or injurious imports” under a Biden administration.
But some cases already have been initiated under President Donald Trump, he said.
“It will become a question of how the next administration will deal with those.”
Mikee Suarez, salesman for Rio Rico-based MAS Melons & Grapes and a member of the FPAA’s board of directors, said he’s not sure if there will be an immediate change of course.
“It goes a lot deeper than just the presidency changing hands or the administration changing hands,” he said.
He was hopeful that some changes will be made, including improved trade initiatives.
“To say that overnight we’re going to go from dark to light, I don’t think so.”
Chris Ciruli, partner at Ciruli Bros. in Rio Rico, said the industry must be able to work with any administration and do what makes sense to move more product.
“That’s the way you have to be in produce,” he said. “We’re not Republicans, we’re not Democrats, we just need to move more product and get more fresh fruits and vegetables on the table of the U.S. and Canadian (consumers).”
Jesus Gonzalez, general manager for Nogales-based Crown Jewels Produce, said he has been in the business for 37 years.
“We’ve been through a lot of president changes and business keeps growing,” he said.
“It makes sense for both countries to work together.”
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