FPAA formalizes national advocacy efforts in new membership structure 

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas members have approved a newly adopted dues and membership structure, according to a news release.

The new structure addresses the ongoing work of the FPAA on a national basis, according to a news release. The structure also maintains existing state- and local-level services in Arizona with a foundation to add more services in other states at the discretion of the members, the release said.

The FPAA board of directors recommended the changes to the membership given that many of the issues and opportunities members face, from attempted restrictions of U.S. market access to renegotiated trade agreements and regulations, do not stop at the border crossing in Nogales, according to the release.

The board of directors presented the new structure as a way for the association to continue to provide the protections necessary for current and future members to thrive and grow, the release said.

The changes were adopted at a special FPAA membership meeting on Jan. 30, the release said.

“Our industry is ever evolving. The completion of the Mazatlan – Durango highway has led many firms in the association to utilize Texas ports of entry to position loads for distribution to the Mid-West and East Coast,” Rod Sbragia, chairman of the FPAA, said in the release. “For two decades dues have applied only to truckloads crossed in Nogales. FPAA presently does not collect fees on members’ crossings outside of Nogales, Arizona. However, many of the large issues we tackle on a daily basis impact U.S. importers and allied industry members across the border not just those crossing here in Nogales.” 

Lance Jungmeyer, president of the FPAA, said in the release that the membership and dues structure is designed to provide a bedrock for national advocacy in a way that maintains an overall FPAA budget that supports members’ market access.

“It also gives us the framework to continue our local and state advocacy where members decide they need it,” Jungmeyer said. “We have worked on many national issues for the industry for decades, and the new structure better accounts for those efforts. The FPAA looks forward to this year and welcomes all new members. The FPAA has some exciting things in the works this year and is excited about this expansion to all Southwest importing states."

The FPAA’s Spring Policy Summit is March 14-15, while the group’s big event this year will be the 54th annual convention under a new name and layout, the Southwest International Expo (SWIPE). The event is set for Nov. 2-4 in Tucson at Lowes Ventana Canyon. See the full schedules of events at freshfrommexico.com.