Fresh Produce Assocation of the Americas

FPAA Backs Transporation Infrastructure Upgrades, Plans Summit

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:43:21 GMT

Improving the transportation infrastructure around the Nogales, Ariz., port of entry and beyond seems to be a never-ending project for the Arizona Department of Transportation, and it’s wholeheartedly supported by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.

ADOT says its work on Interstate 19 currently includes intelligent transportation system improvements between Nogales and Tucson, Ariz., including message boards and wrong-way detection, explains Saul Macias, FPAA communications coordinator.

Other southern Arizona work continues to focus on freight mobility and corridor reliability.

“That matters directly to produce because speed, visibility and predictability are critical for perishables moving north,” Macias says.

FPAA also is supporting a grant proposal in Nogales that would improve the interchanges serving the Rio Rico Industrial Park.

Summit Set

In other news from FPAA, the association’s 2026 Spring Policy Summit is scheduled for May 6 in Tubac, Ariz.

“The summit is designed to connect produce industry leaders with policymakers, agency officials and key stakeholders for discussion around trade, border operations, infrastructure, inspections and the broader regulatory environment impacting fresh produce,” Macias says.

“Given the amount of policy uncertainty facing the industry right now, we see the event as an important forum for keeping members informed and engaged,” he adds.

Trump should avoid new tariffs on Mexican produce imports, FPAA says

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:25:24 GMT

Despite the possibility of new tariffs on produce imports under a new Trump administration, there are plenty of reasons to discard the idea, says Lance Jungmeyer.

“No one is excited about the idea of tariffs,” said Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, which represents the interests of produce distributors in Arizona, California and Texas.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement went into effect in July 2020 during the previous Trump administration, Jungmeyer said. That agreement preserved tariff-free imports of produce from Canada and Mexico. Looking to his next term, Trump may be more interested in putting in place tariffs on manufactured goods from certain countries, Jungmeyer speculated.

“Nonetheless, everybody’s worried about this because you have to look at what it could mean to your business,” he said.

One key argument against new tariffs on produce imports, he said, is that President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to fight inflation and to reduce prices at the grocery store.

“If you put tariffs on Mexican fruits and vegetables, there’s no doubt about it, you’ll have inflation in the supermarket and you will have bare shelves,” he said. “Consumers will not be happy with that.”

Jungmeyer said the USMCA will be reviewed or renegotiated in 2026, with hearings likely to start in mid-2025.

For all of next year and continuing on to 2026, he said interested parties in American trade will be working on their positions for the USMCA, seeking to represent the interests of industries impacted by the agreement.

Mexican growers challenged by water shortfall, tight labor conditions

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 18:02:21 GMT

Mexican produce growers are pressured by short water and tight labor conditions this season, but distributors in Nogales, Ariz., and other warehouse cities continue to expand their capabilities, said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.

There have been some issues with water and labor availability in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa. Growers in those regions have been in a long-term drought and some reservoirs that provide water to growers are only 20% to 30% full.

Growers of produce, grain and other crops have been hurt by the water shortfall, Jungmeyer said.

The questions about water availability have likely caused some produce growers to be conservative in the acreage they plant for the coming season. That played into a reduction in Mexican produce volume in the 2023-24 season and may likely cause a similar effect this year, Jungmeyer said.

USDA statistics indicate that U.S. imports of Mexican fruits and vegetables totaled 11.18 million metric tons from October 2023 to September 2024, down 5% from the previous season.

Labor availability also is a concern for Mexican growers. Factories being relocated from Asia to Mexico are drawing workers from rural regions.

“A lot of the Mexican migrant workers, people who are Mexican citizens and migrate from place to place in Mexico, are doing that less and less,” Jungmeyer said, which leaves less labor available in certain areas.

“I think you’re starting to see more Central American laborers in the farm workforce,” he said.

The factories also compete with farms for water, he said.

Another trend that is continuing for growers is an emphasis on social and environmental responsibility measures.

Distributors in Nogales also are expanding their warehouse capabilities, building some new facilities and rehabbing older warehouses, Jungmeyer said. Some of that capacity is helping to handle U.S. exports of apples and potatoes to Mexico, but mostly for Mexican produce coming north to the U.S.

There has been an increase in investments by private equity and foreign investors in the Mexican produce supply chain, which Jungmeyer said is a trend in many produce-growing countries.

FPAA is now representing the interest of distributors in Arizona, Texas and California, with dues based on the number of truckloads crossed in each district. Because of new growing regions and highway infrastructure, Texas ports have seen a more rapid increase in Mexican produce shipments compared with Nogales in recent years. The FPAA is representing the interests of all distributors of Mexican produce.

“I want to make sure the industry understands we’re not just a Nogales tomato association,” Jungmeyer said. “We are an association representing importers of all kinds.”

FPAA looks to build on SWIPE success

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:48:00 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas celebrated a successful 2024 Southwest International Produce Expo, says association President Lance Jungmeyer.

The Nov. 7-9 event, hosted at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Ariz., saw attendance of more than 800, up from 550 last year, Jungmeyer said. Sixty-five exhibitors promoted their business at the show, up from about 45 last year.

Importantly, the number of buyers at the show also increased, from 45 a year ago to 60 this year, he said.

“Our goal is to keep as close to a 1-to-1 ratio of buyers to exhibitors as possible,” Jungmeyer said. “I think that gives really good value to people who are supporting the event with their exhibit space.”

The event featured several successful elements, including a sold-out golf tournament and a women’s leadership session.

“One of the things we did differently in golf is we partnered with the Fresh Produce and Floral Council,” Jungmeyer said. Last year, the FPFC had an Arizona golf tournament about a week after the SWIPE event in Scottsdale, but this year the two groups went together on the golf tournament in Tucson.

“This year was a sellout, with great participation on both sides,” he said.

The next SWIPE is scheduled in Tucson for Jan. 22-24, 2026, about 14 months after the 2024 event. There is great excitement and early sign-up for that event, and Jungmeyer said the timing works out well for the industry.

“It positions us in a sweet spot,” he said, noting that SWIPE will not compete with trade shows or meetings from Western Growers, the Southeast Produce Council, the International Fresh Produce Association and others.

“It is a [time when] there’s not really anything going on, and we’re hopeful that people will escape from the cold and come to Arizona in January,” Jungmeyer said.

Top lobbyists, analyst, to break down election results

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:51:19 GMT

The stakes are high for the Nov. 3 election, and industry leaders will discuss the results and what it might mean for the produce industry in a live panel on Nov. 12 at The Packer’s virtual West Coast Produce Expo .

The session features Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy at the United Fresh Produce Association ; Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas ; Dave Puglia, president of Western Growers ; and Jim Wiesemeyer, policy analyst for Pro Farmer.

The session, moderated by Tom Karst, editor of The Packer, will look at implications for the industry in the results of the House, Senate and presidential election contests.

While a trade war with China has led to U.S. export declines, President Trump has received broad support from farmers, including fresh produce growers.

In a September poll on the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group, 72% of those voting predicted Trump will be re-elected to a second term. Many recent polls show Biden with a lead over Trump in many key states.

Registration for the West Coast Produce Expo is online .

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Trade commission says Mexican tomatoes threaten U.S. growers

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:13:32 GMT

In a decision that will keep in place the tomato suspension agreement between Mexican growers and the Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Mexican tomatoes sold at less than “fair value” threaten the domestic industry.

The ITC on Nov. 22 determined with a vote of 4-0 that the U.S. tomato industry is threatened by imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico, agreeing with the Commerce Department that they are sold in the U.S. at less than fair value, according to a news release from the commission.

As a result of the trade commission’s decision, the suspension agreement Commerce signed with Mexican tomato growers remains in effect.
International Trade Commissioners Rhonda Schmidtlein, Jason Kearns, Randolph Stayin, and Amy Karpel sided with the U.S. tomato industry; chairman David Johanson did not vote, according to the release.

An ITC report, Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico (Inv. No. 731-TA-747 (Final), USITC Publication 5003, December 2019) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation, according to the release. It will be available to the public by the end of the year at https://bit.ly/2rlOmXr .

Vindication

The Florida Tomato Exchange said the unanimous ruling came soon after the Department of Commerce’s decision that Mexican tomatoes had been dumped in the U.S. market at an average margin of 21% less than fair value.

“These rulings validate the U.S. industry’s long-held claims about dumped Mexican tomatoes,” according to a news release from the tomato exchange.

A similar ITC decision in an anti-dumping investigation typically leads to duties, but because the investigation was completed after the signing of a new suspension agreement, the anti-dumping duties will be suspended for as long as the agreement remains in place. If the agreement is abandoned, however, anti-dumping duties begin immediately, according to the Florida group’s release.

“The Florida Tomato Exchange hopes that this new reality will instill discipline among exporters and importers of Mexican tomatoes so that they will not attempt to circumvent the rules of the suspension agreement,” according to the release.

The Florida Tomato Exchange said the U.S. industry looks forward to “turning the page” after two years of negotiations and investigations.

“The new agreement provides a level of certainty that has that has been lacking over the last couple of years on both sides of the border, and we hope all parties can now focus on complying with the terms of the new agreement,” Michael Schadler, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange, said in the release. “We will remain very engaged with the Commerce Department to ensure that the inspection and compliance provisions of the new agreement are being followed and enforced properly.”

Disappointment

In a news release after the decision, Mexican tomato growers expressed disappointment in the ITC ruling and have separately challenged the Commerce Department finding of dumping at the U.S. Court of International Trade.

“Our calculations based on the very computer programs used by the Commerce Department demonstrate that we are not dumping. We look forward to having the court review Commerce’s calculations,” Rosario Beltran, president of the Sinaloa growers association, said in the release.

The release said Mexican growers remain committed to the terms of the agreement signed in September. Extensive implementation efforts across Mexico began months ago and will intensify as the industry ramps up for the winter season.

“The grower associations in Mexico are working closely with their membership to make sure all the terms of the agreement are understood and there is full compliance,” Guillermo Jimenez, president of Mexico’s AMHPAC growers association, which represents protected-agriculture growers, said in the release. “We have done bulletins, workshops and webcasts to reach every grower.”

Antonio Gandara, president of the Sonora growers association, said in the release that Mexican tomato growers “take the Department of Commerce at its word that the agreement is not designed to impede trade and will be an enduring document.”

The Nogales, Ariz.-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas said in a news release that the trade commission “failed to recognize that the growth of Mexican tomato imports is due to U.S. consumer preferences and U.S. companies seeking out the best varieties and growing regions to meet these demands.”

“Companies across North America have been importing tomatoes from Mexico for over a century. U.S. importers have worked with their North American customers to create a category of tomatoes highlighted by superior quality, flavor and consistency of supply. Today’s ruling will not change this,” Lance Jungmeyer, president of the FPAA, said in the release. “Consumers prefer vine-ripened tomatoes, and this is why domestic gassed-green tomatoes continue to lose market share. We are disappointed that the USITC failed to recognize this simple reality.”

The FPAA continues to work with members to comply with the tomato suspension agreement, according to the release.

Related stories:

Commerce sets preliminary dumping margin of 25% on Mexican tomatoes

Tomato leaders spar before the International Trade Commission

Mexican tomato agreement done, duties kick in

U.S. growers testify that Mexico trade practices harm them

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:43:12 GMT

U.S. growers, trade groups, Florida officials and members of Congress testified virtually in front of federal agencies that imports, mostly targeting Mexico, are increasingly making harder for U.S. farms to survive.

“When faced with the data, the harm being caused by these trade practices cannot be denied — I implore the administration to see these figures not only as numbers on a chart, but as an attack on Americans’ livelihoods,” Nikki Fried, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said at the hearing.

Fried and other officials, along with growers, mostly from Florida, testified during a hearing by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Commerce Department on Aug. 13. Another hearing is set for Aug. 20.

The live-streamed event featured about three dozen speakers. It was scheduled by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer after growers in Florida, Georgia and some other states requested seasonal trade protections in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Those requests were not successful, but Lighthizer promised to follow up.

Fried referred to a recent study from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “ Putting Florida’s Farmers First: Mexico’s Ag-Exports Impacts on Florida Agriculture .”

According to the study, Florida’s share of the U.S. domestic market has dropped 40%, while Mexico’s has grown 217%.

“I’m thankful that the administration provided the opportunity to hear directly from the farmers, families, and communities that are suffering due to unfair trade practices,” Fried said, according to a statement from the department. “The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stands ready to assist our federal and industry partners as we move towards long-overdue solutions.”

Mike Joyner, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association , said Mexico’s government has “funneled extraordinary levels” (more than $200 million each year) into the country’s protected-agriculture industry, and targeted Eastern U.S. markets by pricing products cheaper there than in western states.
“Florida’s fresh-produce industry is in deep crisis,” Joyner said at the hearing. “It needs prompt USTR trade relief if our country hopes to continue feeding Americans domestically grown fruits and vegetables in the fall, winter and spring.”

He asked Lighthizer to investigate Mexican Trade practices, or launch a trade relief measure.

Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Nogales, Ariz.-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas , did not testify at the hearing, but released a statement from the group in response to remarks made in support of U.S growers.

He cited the repeated use of phrases during the testimony throughout the day, including “unfair subsidies,” “unfair trade-distorting practices,” “national security” and “unfair labor,” without “providing reasonable evidence or context,” according to the FPAA statement.

“Despite repeating the inflammatory phrases over and over, Florida and Georgia speakers did not present concrete, verifiable examples of their claims. Repeating the claims enough times does not make the claims true,” Jungmeyer said in the statement.

Related stories:

Hearings set on trade practices that affect Florida, other states

U.S. to investigate seasonal dumping, but not through USMCA

USMCA signed by Trump

FPAA honors Divine Flavor’s Jose Antonio Martinez

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:47:35 GMT

Jose Antonio Martinez, chief operating officer and general manager of Divine Flavor , Nogales, Ariz., is the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas’ 2020 Member of the Year.

Martinez will be honored at the association’s annual meeting Sept. 29, which is virtual and will be attended by board members only.

He is known for working tirelessly to implement innovations in inspections and warehouse management, according to a news release.

“He has been a great example of a member of the industry interacting with state government,” Scott Vandervoet, FPAA chairman and president of Vandervoet & Associates, said in the release.

Martinez, who has been with Divine Flavor since 2014, joined the FPAA’s board in 2018. Earlier in his career, he was assistant chief of staff to Sonora Gov. Eduardo Bours.

“The mixture of his experience and his passion is palpable,” FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer said in the release. “He brings great energy to solving problems that impact all fresh produce distributors.”

Related stories:

Trade talk with FPAA’s Lance Jungmeyer

FPAA promotes Georgina Felix, Emmis Yubeta

Gifts of guac, safety tunnels: companies help during crisis

Leonardo Tarriba of Farmer’s Best is new FPAA chairman

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:47:54 GMT

Leonardo Tarriba, CEO of Farmer’s Best International , is the new chairman of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas , Nogales, Ariz.

Tarriba began his two-year term at the organization’s annual meeting — a Sept. 29 virtual event open to board members. He succeeds Scott Vandervoet of Vandervoet & Associates , who remains on the board for two more years as past chairman.

Vandervoet spoke of the increased challenges to the Nogales area industry in the past year, according to a news release, including the COVID-19 pandemic and greater resistance to Mexican imports from domestic growers and the Trump administration.

Lance Jungmeyer, FPAA president, said Vandervoet helped rally donations to Native American tribes and local organizations, and represented the area’s importers in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City on trade issues.

Tarriba has been a member of FPAA’s tomato , mango and grape divisions.

“Fighting for our industry is a moral obligation and one I take very seriously,” Tarriba said in the release. “I thank my coworkers, the owners of my company, my family and my peers for making it possible for me to dedicate myself to the position of chairman for the next two years.”

New FPAA board distributor directors who started two-year terms are:

Bobby Astengo,Peppers Plus;
Gonzalo Avila, Malena Produce;
Jaime Chamberlain, Chamberlain Distributing;
Martin Ley, Shipley Sales;
Matt Mandel, SunFed;
Jose Antonio Martinez, Divine Flavor;
Eric Meyer, Prime Time;
Bert Monteverde Jr., H.M. Distributing; and
Lesley Sykes, The Sykes Co.

Chuck Thomas, of Thomas Produce and Jorge Gamez of Atlas International, are serving one-year terms as associate member directors.

Jimmy Munguia of Del Campo Supreme was re-elected chairman of the tomato division. Chris Ciruli of Ciruli Bros. continues as mango division chairman and John Pandol of Pandol Bros. continues as grape division chairman.

Related stories:

FPAA honors Divine Flavor’s Jose Antonio Martinez

Podcast — Two conversations on seasonal trade protection

FPAA promotes Georgina Felix, Emmis Yubeta

Produce groups to Congress: Pass the Workforce bill

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:28:34 GMT

UPDATE: The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 was passed with a vote of 260-165: “ House passes farm labor bill; industry shifts focus to Senate. ”

Fresh produce industry organizations are urging House members to approve the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, which they are voting on Dec. 11.

In a Dec. 11 letter supporting the legislation, agriculture groups commended the work of a bipartisan group of House members to agree on issues to resolve a farm labor crisis.

According to the letter, nearly 300 agriculture organizations have voiced support for the workforce bill, which cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Nov. 20.

The letter also asks senators to craft a version that “embodies the same spirit” as the house bill.

The legislation includes provisions that improve the H-2A program, establish a mandatory E-verify process for growers when hiring labor, and allows workers to apply for temporary and potentially permanent status to remain in the U.S.

“While we understand the president is working on a merit-based system for comprehensive immigration reform, the agricultural portion of immigration reform has historically been negotiated separately,” according to the letter. “This is because it has been an established fact that foreign workers are not displacing Americans on the farm, and their work here enables agricultural production to stay in America rather than going to other countries.

“For this reason, this bill does not interfere with the administration’s broader plan for overhauling the immigration system,” according to the letter.

Organizations that signed the letter include:

AmericanHort
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
National Council of Agricultural Employers
National Potato Council
United Fresh Produce Association
U.S. Apple Association
Western Growers Association

Related stories:

UPDATED: Farm labor bill clears committee

Produce groups support farm labor law, will seek improvements

U.S. Department of Labor issues final rule to modernize H-2A program

FPAA recognizes members’ work during crisis

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:10:06 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas , Nogales, Ariz., is recognizing the efforts of its members to keep food moving through the supply chain during the pandemic.

The FPAA said its members remain committed to delivering fresh produce, from dispatchers to sales staff, warehouse experts and quality control supervisors show up to work in southern border areas of Texas, Arizona and California, according to a news release.

“The staff of the FPAA is acting diligently to assist our members in any way we can through this challenging time,” according to the release. “We hold video meetings and answer questions. We share the latest government recommendations to members and advocate for their needs to continue to do their jobs.”

The association said its members work with partners in the U.S., Mexico and Canada to maintain strict controls on access to warehouses.

“Our members are American companies working hard for North Americans,” according to the release. “They are on the front lines of our food supply chain. In these uncertain times, they provide stability.

“They are vital to our economy, and they are vital for our health,” according to the release. “They know America depends on them to have the food we need.”

For more coverage of industry groups during the crisis, see The Packer’s COVID-19 webpage .

Related stories:

Amid the chaos, heroes, innovation emerge from the produce industry

Produce rolls with the changes; USDA plans grower payments

Produce operators reflect on COVID-19 lessons

FPAA sets agenda for fall convention, 75th-anniversary celebration

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:16:35 GMT

Celebrating 75 years of service, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas has its programing and speaker lineup set for its Nov. 7-9 convention.

The FPAA’s 51st Annual Produce Convention and Golf Tournament will be at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, Tubac, Ariz.

Educational sessions are on the agenda for Nov. 7. Speakers include Raquel Espinoza from Produce House, Walter Ram from Giumarra Cos., and Jaime Chamberlain from Chamberlain Distributing, according to the release. The keynote speaker this year is Rick Stein from the Food Marketing Institute, whose presentation is on the FMI’s “Power of Fresh” research study.

“Every year we work to bring engaging speakers to cover relevant topics that impact our members and their partners in the industry,” Lance Jungmeyer, FPAA president, said in a news release. “The caliber of speakers and the knowledge they bring to the table is a valuable part of our annual event. This year is no exception.”

During the event, the FPAA will celebrate its 75th anniversary with photos and other artifacts on display.

The association, initially called the West Mexico Vegetable Distributors Association, was formed in 1944, according to the release. The name was changed to represent the changing nature of the supply chain, according to the group.

“FPAA has such a great history, and a great future,” FPAA Chairman Scott Vandervoet said in the release. “We can’t wait to share in the celebration and storytelling with our members and guests.”

FPAA has worked on a historical project with Axel Holm, son of Walter Holm, co-founder of the original association, which will also be featured.
The event’s fourth Culinary Showcase — Top Dishes out of Mexico’s Top Produce will give attendees the opportunity to sample appetizers and enjoy live music.

To register for the event, contact the FPAA at 520-287-2707 or visit www.freshfrommexico.com.

U.S.-Mexico trade relationship examined at FPAA Spring Policy Summit

Mon, 03 May 2021 13:09:04 GMT

The strong but sometimes tenuous U.S.-Mexico trade relationship was the focal point of an April 21 session of the Fresh Produce Association’s virtual Spring Policy Summit.

The session, moderated by FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer, also included Kenneth Smith, former lead NAFTA negotiator for Mexico and current partner with AGON, and Britton Mullen, president of the Border Trade Alliance and principal with Clarke Consulting.

With the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement becoming effective in July 2020 and the North American Free Trade Agreement in place for more than two decades before then, Smith said the last 25 years has been a success story for agricultural trade between the two countries.

There is over $50 billion in trade in the ag sector between Mexico and the U.S., and that number was just $8 billion when NAFTA started more than 25 years ago.

Mexico is almost exporting to $40 billion in ag products to the U.S. every year, and about half of those are fruits and vegetables. In turn, Smith said the U.S. is a big exporter of many ag commodities to Mexico, including corn, meat, oilseeds and more.

During USMCA talks, U.S. trade negotiators were trying to narrow the trade deficit with Mexico, but Smith said Canada and Mexico rejected provisions that would have restricted access for some Mexican products by way of seasonality provisions or deficit triggers.

“All of this was rejected by Mexico and by Canada at the end of a very long negotiation, almost 18 months,” he said. “We were able to obtain positive results on agriculture, and free trade was preserved across all products between Mexico and the U.S.

In addition, USMCA brought stronger disciplines in sanitary and phytosanitary measures to increase transparency, facilitate trade, and ensure animal and plant safety, he said. Provisions that address biotechnology also were folded into USMCA.

In addition, there were solid trade remedy provisions that were preserved from the NAFTA and strengthened. The USMCA should be a big opportunity for furthering U.S. Mexico agricultural trade, but Smith said there have been irritants to agricultural trade in the past two years on both sides of the border.

The new administration in Mexico has adopted ideological positions against agricultural biotechnology, which has the potential to delay authorizations for new biotechnology products.

That touches key U.S. commodities, including soybeans, corn and GMO cotton seeds.

Mexico could be “shooting itself in the foot” with the policies against biotechnology, he said, noting that GMO cotton seeds have allowed Mexican growers to double their yields and reduce pesticide use by 50%.

“By blocking (GMO varieties) for ideological reasons, we’re essentially hurting our farmers in Mexico because (growers) cannot use this essential input,” he said.

“When you establish these types of prohibitions, not only are you in violation of the USMCA because you are not being transparent or clear in the sense of why you’re establishing certain regulations that creates trade barriers, but you’re also hurting your own agriculture,” he said.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is already placed Mexico’s restrictions in their trade barriers report, he said.

Those issues, along with the Mexican ban on the import of glyphosate into Mexico and the possibility of banning U.S. GMO corn, represent dark clouds in the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship, he said.

Troubling issues persist on the U.S. side as well, he said, including strong protectionist efforts in the form of seasonality investigations to restrict Mexican fruits and vegetables and the long wait for USDA approval to open the entire Mexican territory for exports of avocados to the U.S.

While the International Trade Commission found no injury to U.S. growers from blueberry imports, squash, cucumbers and strawberries also could come under the ITC microscope, he said.

Considering trade tensions, Smith said Mexico needs to be careful of actions that would encourage protectionism in the U.S. by fresh produce growers in Florida, Georgia and other states.

Despite the potential disputes on both sides of the border, Smith said the outlook is “not all gloom and doom.”

“There is a way forward,” he said. Bilateral agricultural trade between the U.S. and Mexico has increased over the last year and a half, despite the COVID crisis.

“The COVID crisis showed that agricultural trade and the free flow of food is essential,” he said.

“The best way to defuse what could be a very damaging potential trade war between the U.S. and Mexico is for these (USMCA) sanitary phytosanitary working groups to get together to start the technical work to analyze each item individually,” he said. “There is no reason why the majority of this issue these irritants should not go away.”

Decision makers in both countries must put aside regional and political ideological considerations that could hurt agricultural trade, he said.

DC view

Mullen said a strong trade relationship between the U.S. and Mexico is needed to build strong economies after the COVID crisis. But it will not be easy, she said.

“From the Trump administration to the Biden administration, there’s been nothing simple about this,” she said.

A chief challenge is the issue of seasonality trade remedies . The political importance of Georgia and Florida in presidential elections heightens the stakes for that issue, she said.

The Border Trade Alliance, along with the FPAA, has working on educating members of Congress why seasonality should not move forward.

Any U.S. protectionist measures would likely be met with steps to slow U.S. ag exports to Mexico, she said.

The infrastructure package, which will be considered by Congress over the next several weeks, will be important to evaluate relative to trade issues, she said.

“We’re advocating to direct new dollars to border port infrastructure and (funds) to modernize our ports and surrounding roads and highways to increase competitiveness of regions struggling from the pandemic induced economic downturn,” she said.

The current status of migrants at the U.S. Southern border “complicates everything,” she said, noting the large number of deaths that have happened as people have attempted to cross the border in recent months.

Potato hope

In a question-and-answer session, Smith said the quest to expand U.S. potato export access to Mexico may be settled within a few months.
An agreement signed in 2003 between Mexico and the U.S. called for the gradual opening of access for U.S. fresh potatoes beyond the 26-mile border region. That was supposed to happen in 2006 but never did.

“There has been an effort, and in fact, a ruling in Mexico to open up the access of U.S. fresh potatoes into the entire Mexican territory,” he said. Injunctions by Mexican potato producers are now being considered by the Mexican Supreme Court, which was supposed to start the review of the issue by 2018.

That has not happened yet, but Smith said that he has heard the court could finally take up the issue in the next few months.

“It is a thorny issue,” he said. “I do believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Resolving that issue favorable for U.S. potato access could be helpful for Mexico’s quest to expand avocado access to the U.S. from all of its growing regions. “The reality is that there are important political pressures surrounding both potatoes and avocados,” Smith said.

Non-tariff barriers impact perishable imports at the Mexico-U.S. Border

Tue, 04 May 2021 16:16:43 GMT

The University of Arizona (UA), Rogers College of Law recently published a TradeLab report about non-tariff barriers to trade.

Titled Inspections and Non-Tariff Barriers on “Perishable Imports” at the Mexico-US Border: Legal Limits and Best Practices, the report focuses on the impact that these non-tariff restrictions on commodities have on imported fresh produce. The report was created by law students Derek Brewer, Brien Brockbank, Leon Kuntz, Tusa Rutherford, and Ekaterina Shkarbuta, as well as teaching fellow Lauren Robbins and Professor Sergio Puig.

During the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA,) Spring Policy Summit 2021, a session was dedicated to the breakdown of the report and potential paths forward. The full report is available for download online .

The new requirement for quality inspections under the Tomato Suspension Agreement was a focal point for the report. These new quality inspections, that go above and beyond national treatment of fresh tomatoes, are one way the flow of fresh produce is delayed or restricted.

The report also covers the latest on trade deals between the U.S. and Mexico and the differences between NAFTA and USMCA. A breakdown of USMCA Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) rules and the chapter on Technical Barriers for the USMCA are part of the analysis. The report goes on to look at phytosanitary barriers that are being used in the case of tomatoes and Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus inspection requirements without the accompanying standard SPS risk assessment.

“Technical barriers to trade emerged as a cudgel in the previous Administration,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. “It’s time for to revisit the impact of these. Technical barriers to trade cause our trading partners to respond in kind, and this harms all of U.S. agriculture.”

The report features a remedies section that provides potential mechanisms for redress for each of the areas reviewed. This portion of the TradeLab report includes dispute resolution mechanisms for the USMCA. As stated in the report “The USMCA contains detailed enforcement and conflict resolution mechanisms to be employed by member parties. Chapter 9 permits both importing and exporting parties to duly request information concerning trade restrictions, import controls, as well as pest and disease conditions in implicated zones.

The USMCA furthermore calls for the establishment of technical working groups, meeting on a permanent or ad-hoc basis, to be called upon in the event of trade disputes surrounding SPS measures implemented by either party.” Other items discussed in this section include potential remedies for the SPS and TBT agreements.

Andrea Ortega joins FPAA as communications manager

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 17:19:17 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas has hired Andrea Ortega as communications coordinator.

Ortega most recently was an entry specialist at Grupo GOCM, which provides services for imports of Mexican products into the U.S.

Before that, she was executive director of the Tubac, Ariz., Chamber of Commerce. She has also worked for the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Peace of Mind Events and the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, home to many FPAA events, according to a news release.

Ortega is from the Nogales, Ariz., area and has a background in marketing, communications, event coordination and importing/exporting.

“We are excited to have an enthusiastic believer in economic development on board,” Lance Jungmeyer, FPAA president, said in the release. “As an organization driven to help companies succeed in their businesses, we have a story to tell, with $100 million in infrastructure improvements coming to Nogales, and a cold inspection room that will expand the breadth of items handled in Nogales, of course which means jobs.”

The communication coordinator role, a new position at the organization, according to the release, is designed to:

Improve communications to members and the community;
Assist in coordinating events, workshops and educational series;
Update the FPAA website;
Support FPAA advocacy efforts
Manage social media; and
Develop marketing plans.

U.S.-Mexico trade relationship examined at FPAA Spring Policy Summit

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 15:23:21 GMT

The long-standing but sometimes tenuous U.S.-Mexico trade relationship was the focal point of an April 21 session of the Fresh Produce Association’s virtual Spring Policy Summit.

The session, moderated by FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer, also included Kenneth Smith, former lead NAFTA negotiator for Mexico and current partner with AGON, and Britton Mullen, president of the Border Trade Alliance and principal with Clarke Consulting.

With the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement becoming effective in July 2020 and the North American Free Trade Agreement in place for more than two decades before then, Smith said the past 25 years has been a success story for agricultural trade between the two countries.

There is over $50 billion in trade in the ag sector between Mexico and the U.S., and that number was just $8 billion when NAFTA started more than 25 years ago.

Mexico is exporting almost $40 billion in ag products to the U.S. every year, and about half of those are fruits and vegetables. In turn, Smith said the U.S. is a big exporter of many ag commodities to Mexico, including corn, meat, oilseeds and more.

During USMCA talks, U.S. trade negotiators were trying to narrow the trade deficit with Mexico, but Smith said Canada and Mexico rejected provisions that would have restricted access for some Mexican products by way of seasonality provisions or deficit triggers.

“All of this was rejected by Mexico and by Canada at the end of a very long negotiation, almost 18 months,” he said. “We were able to obtain positive results on agriculture, and free trade was preserved across all products between Mexico and the U.S.

In addition, USMCA brought stronger disciplines in sanitary and phytosanitary measures to increase transparency, facilitate trade, and ensure animal and plant safety, he said. Provisions that address biotechnology also were folded into USMCA.

There were solid trade remedy provisions that were preserved from NAFTA and strengthened. The USMCA should be a big opportunity for furthering U.S.-Mexico agricultural trade, but Smith said there have been irritants to agricultural trade in the past two years on both sides of the border.

The new administration in Mexico has adopted ideological positions against agricultural biotechnology, which has the potential to delay authorizations for new biotechnology products.

That touches key U.S. commodities, including soybeans, corn and GMO cotton seeds.

Mexico could be “shooting itself in the foot” with the policies against biotechnology, Smith said, noting that GMO cotton seeds have allowed Mexican growers to double their yields and reduce pesticide use by 50%.

“By blocking (GMO varieties) for ideological reasons, we’re essentially hurting our farmers in Mexico because (growers) cannot use this essential input,” he said.

“When you establish these types of prohibitions, not only are you in violation of the USMCA because you are not being transparent or clear in the sense of why you’re establishing certain regulations that create trade barriers, but you’re also hurting your own agriculture,” he said.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has already placed Mexico’s restrictions in its trade barriers report, he said.

Those issues, along with the Mexican ban on the import of glyphosate into Mexico and the possibility of banning U.S. GMO corn, represent dark clouds in the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship, he said.

Troubling issues persist on the U.S. side as well, he said, including strong protectionist efforts in the form of seasonality investigations to restrict Mexican fruits and vegetables and the long wait for USDA approval to open the entire Mexican territory for exports of avocados to the U.S.

While the International Trade Commission found no injury to U.S. growers from blueberry imports, squash, cucumbers and strawberries also could come under the ITC microscope, he said.

Considering trade tensions, Smith said Mexico needs to be careful of actions that would encourage protectionism in the U.S. by fresh produce growers in Florida, Georgia and other states.

Despite the potential disputes on both sides of the border, Smith said the outlook is “not all gloom and doom.”

“There is a way forward,” he said.

Bilateral agricultural trade between the U.S. and Mexico has increased over the past year and a half, despite the COVID-19 crisis.
“The COVID crisis showed that agricultural trade and the free flow of food is essential,” he said.

“The best way to defuse what could be a very damaging potential trade war between the U.S. and Mexico is for these (USMCA) phytosanitary working groups to get together to start the technical work to analyze each item individually,” he said. “There is no reason why the majority of these irritants should not go away.”

Decision-makers in both countries must put aside regional and political-ideological considerations that could hurt agricultural trade, he said.

DC view

Mullen said a strong trade relationship between the U.S. and Mexico is needed to build strong economies after the COVID-19 crisis. But it will not be easy, she said.

“From the Trump administration to the Biden administration, there’s been nothing simple about this,” she said.

A chief challenge is the issue of seasonal trade remedies. The political importance of Georgia and Florida in presidential elections heightens the stakes for that issue, she said.

The Border Trade Alliance, along with the FPAA, has been working on educating members of Congress why seasonality should not move forward.

Any U.S. protectionist measures would likely be met with steps to slow U.S. ag exports to Mexico, she said.

The infrastructure package, which will be considered by Congress over the next several weeks, will be important to evaluate relative to trade issues, she said.

“We’re advocating to direct new dollars to border port infrastructure and (funds) to modernize our ports and surrounding roads and highways to increase the competitiveness of regions struggling from the pandemic-induced economic downturn,” she said.

The current status of migrants at the southern U.S. border “complicates everything,” she said, noting the large number of deaths that have happened as people have attempted to cross the border in recent months.

Potato hope

In a question-and-answer session, Smith said the quest to expand U.S. potato export access to Mexico may be settled within a few months.

An agreement signed in 2003 between Mexico and the U.S. called for the gradual opening of access for U.S. fresh potatoes beyond the 26-mile border region. That was supposed to happen in 2006 but never did.

“There has been an effort, and in fact, a ruling in Mexico to open up the access of U.S. fresh potatoes into the entire Mexican territory,” he said.

Injunctions by Mexican potato producers are now being considered by the Mexican Supreme Court, which was supposed to start the review of the issue by 2018.

That has not happened, but Smith said that he has heard the court could finally take up the issue in the next few months.

“It is a thorny issue,” he said. “I do believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Resolving that issue in a favorable way for U.S. potato access could be helpful for Mexico’s quest to expand avocado access to the U.S. from all of its growing regions.

“The reality is that there are important political pressures surrounding both potatoes and avocados,” Smith said.

Focus on sustainable themes at FPAA Spring Policy Summit

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 23:14:05 GMT

With Earth Day as a backdrop, an April 22 virtual education session at the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas Spring Policy Summit looked at sustainability issues in the transportation and farming sectors.

Moderated by FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer, the session included panelists Ricardo Crisantes from Amado, Ariz.-based Wholesum and current Fair Trade USA chairman; and Jim Mullen, chief administrative and legal officer at autonomous truck developer TuSimple, who is also former deputy chief for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Green times

Crisantes said 100% of Wholesum’s produce is certified organic, and the company also has been Fair Trade certified since 2013.

In the past seven years, he said the company sent back nearly $6 million to the communities where the produce has been grown, helping about 4,000 employees in the areas of health, education and housing.
Greenhouse technology allows tomato yields that can be as much as tenfold greater than open-field production, he said. About 44% of Wholesum’s energy comes from renewable sources, with ambitions to reach 100% renewable. Those energy sources include solar power and biomass such as sugarcane to produce energy.

Irrigation water is reused, allowing the company to grow a pound of tomatoes with just five gallons of water, compared with 21 gallons required for field-grown tomatoes.

The company also produces beneficial insects to control pests.
“We produced 338 million ladybugs last year that we released in different parts of our farms to control pests,” he said.

In all its efforts, Crisantes said Wholesum seeks to create win-win relationships with its stakeholders.

“Our purpose is to nourish a healthy world and if we’re going to do that, we’re going to need win-win relationships.”

Green miles

By saving fuel, Mullen said autonomous trucking will help the industry be greener.

With its headquarters in San Diego, TuSimple has been around since 2015 and has been focused on developing technology for autonomous trucks, he said.

The company has testing operations in Tucson, Ariz.; Fort Worth, Texas; and is engaged with autonomous truck testing in Sweden and in China.

In the U.S. and Sweden, the company is focused on long-haul trucking, while TuSimple’s work in China is looking solely at Shanghai port operations.

Ten percent of U.S. highways handle about 80% of goods, and TuSimple is focused on the South and Southwest corridor.

“There is a massive, accessible market that we think is ripe for autonomy,” he said.

The company is focused on the long-haul middle mile, not the final mile, he said.

In Arizona, the company is trusting autonomous trucks over surface streets, navigating traffic signals, turning left in front of unprotected left turns and merging onto the Interstate. The autonomous trucks go between Tucson and Phoenix and back daily.

The company is working side by side with Navistar to develop a purpose-built truck with a suite of sensor technologies, scheduled to roll out in 2024.

Several truckload carriers also have partnered with TuSimple, he said.

Benefits

Mullen said autonomous trucking has the chance to solve three of the strong headwinds that have been confronting the trucking industry.

The lack of driver capacity and hours-of-service restrictions have hurt the produce industry, he said. The American Trucking Association estimates the current driver shortage is about 60,000, with a prediction of perhaps 100,000 within two years.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that 55,000 truck drivers have been taken out of the system because of testing positive for drugs or alcohol and Mullen said that issue may continue to be a problem.

“The driver shortage is real, and our solution will help solve that problem,” he said, noting that long-haul drivers are especially hard to find.

Autonomous trucking will also result in safer highways, he said, noting current U.S. statistics show 5,000 fatalities and 30,000 serious injuries every year due to crashes involving large trucks.

Ninety-five percent of those injuries and those crashes are caused by human error, and autonomous trucks would help reduce the number of accidents, he said. That, in turn, would cut insurance costs for trucking companies.

Autonomous trucks also are “greener” than manually driven trucks, Mullen said, pointing to a study by the University of California San Diego that shows a 10% improvement in miles per gallon of fuel used.

“We’re going to help the industry deal with their carbon footprint,” he said.

The technology used by TuSimple includes high-definition cameras, radar and LIDAR. TuSimple’s high-definition cameras can see 1,000 meters. The technology is not yet suitable for snow or icy conditions, so the company is focused on Southern states where snow is not common.

The regulatory landscape for autonomous trucking is open to the technology, he said.

“There is no prohibition from taking the driver out of the truck, which obviously is our endgame,” he said.

Right now, California does not allow for driver-out autonomous trucking, while Arizona, New Mexico and Texas do permit that.

Eventually, TuSimple would like to operate its autonomous truck technology coast to coast, along Interstate 10, from Florida to California.

With recent fundraising from investors, the company now has $1.5 billion on hand to perfect the autonomous truck, Mullen said.

“At the end of this year, we are going to do a human out pilot program in Arizona,” he said, noting that it will be a 110-mile depot-to-depot run.

Mullen said the technology will accelerate when autonomous trucks are manufactured with technology already built-in, rather than having the sensors added after the truck is already in service.

Packer Insight — SEPC, CPMA, FPAA

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:37 GMT

Tom Karst, Amy Sowder and Ashley Nickle discuss their takeaways from recent FPAA, CPMA and SEPC events in the newest episode of Packer Insight.

For more coverage of these events, check out the following articles.

Takeaways from CPMA’s first virtual Fresh Week conference — The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Week conference had almost 2,900 virtual attendees from 42 countries.

U.S.-Mexico trade relationship examined at FPAA Spring Policy Summit — The longstanding but sometimes tenuous U.S.-Mexico trade relationship was the focal point of a session of the Fresh Produce Association’s virtual Spring Policy Summit.

More sustainable packaging dominates new product showcase at SEPC — Retailers interested in more sustainable packaging had many options to consider at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event.

FPAA praises lawmaker involvement on imported blueberry investigation

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 17:48:40 GMT

With billions of dollars at stake, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas commends Senators Sinema (D-AZ) and Moran (R-KS) and Representatives Schweikert (R-AZ) and Cuellar (D-TX) for leading a bipartisan, bicameral letter raising significant concerns with the Trump Administration’s Section 201 investigation on imported blueberries and Section 332 investigations of imported strawberries, bell peppers, squash, and cucumbers.

“The support of this Congressional letter is hugely important for American companies involved in trade, especially with the knowledge that the trade investigations being launched undermine the new USMCA,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer, noting that the trade agreement was signed last year without a so-called seasonality clause because that was the will of the agriculture community at large. Indeed, the Congressional letter follows an industry letter signed by nearly three dozen food and agriculture organizations challenging USTR’s actions.

“This letter from Congress is so important,” Jungmeyer added. “In 2021, if we create trade friction with Mexico, our neighbor and largest trading partner, it will devastate the many businesses that rely on the robust two-way agriculture trade with Mexico.”

FPAA is proud to acknowledge this bipartisan group of policy makers who support cross-border trade with our top trading partners, and the desire to avoid restrictions and tariffs that U.S. consumers end up paying on the products which they demand year-round. This is especially important now that ITC is broadening its investigations into bell peppers, cucumbers and squash, items which have significant economic importance to Arizona distributors. To learn more about FPAA visit www.freshfrommexico.com.

In the blueberry case, the FPAA is part of the Blueberry Coalition for Progress & Health, which is a broad cross-section of the U.S. blueberry industry – including domestic growers and shippers as well as importers and retailers – formed to oppose limitations on blueberry imports, including the recently initiated Section 201 investigation on blueberries. To learn more about the Blueberry Coalition for Progress & Health, visit us here .

FPAA’s Spring Policy Summit 2021 kicks off monthly web series

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:21:05 GMT

Following the success of the annual Spring Policy Summit, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas will be launching a new webinar series for 2021.

The web seminar series, according to a news release, will feature a guest speaker each month and FPAA covering a wide range of topics related to the fresh produce industry including community development, professional development, and updates on policy and trade, according to the release. More details will be available at www.freshfrommexico.com.

In related news, FPPA is also offering access to a 63- page report presented at the Spring Policy Summit called, “ Inspections and Non-Tariff Barriers on “Perishable Imports at the Mexico-US Border: Legal Limits and Best Practices ”.

“We always aim to bring discussions that are both realistic, yet willing to challenge the status quo in order to find the best way forward for the industry,” FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer said in the release.

“Knocking down technical barriers to trade will be one the key challenges for agriculture in the coming years, if we want a level playing field at all.”

FPAA supports infrastructure grant proposals

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 18:30:09 GMT

Southern Arizona’s fast-paced border community serves as one of biggest imported fresh produce distribution regions.

The accessibility from the port of entry to warehouses, cold rooms, and highways makes the Nogales community a competitive state for incoming commodities.
Not only is infrastructure important for Nogales, but also for agriculture sectors around the nation, which along with the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA), recently signed a letter highlighting how food and agriculture would benefit with passage of a Biden Infrastructure package.

Closer to home, Governor Ducey’s funding for road work projects and the support of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) have placed southern Arizona and the border community as an industry leader. By designating funding for infrastructure improvements, Nogales has seen improvements in time of travel, traffic flow and accessibility for commercial vehicles.

The FPAA has supported many of the projects that have been completed and those that are currently under construction including support for improvements on Exits 12 and 17 on Interstate 19, the State Route 189/Mariposa Road project and support for designated funding in the state and federal budgets for infrastructure leading to and from ports of entry. The FPAA and its members have been part of support letters addressed to both state and national stakeholders and have actively participated in planning committees to ensure that the industry’s needs are addressed.

“The fresh produce industry continues to be a jobs driver in Southern Arizona,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. “If we want to keep the economy humming, we need to invest in the roads that move our vital goods including food.”

Jungmeyer noted that Arizona has strong leadership in Congress when it comes to infrastructure.

“Senator Sinema and Senator Kelly are big believers in infrastructure, and so are Represenatitives Grijalva and Kirkpatrick,” Jungmeyer said. “Every bit of roadway for Southern Arizona in effect helps the whole state and the nation better facilitate trade.”
Good infrastructure projects are the result of close collaboration between transportation officials, local community members and businesses impacted by the projects. The FPAA understands the importance of providing feedback as projects are being planned and implemented. The FPAA stays in close contact with member companies and ADOT to make the construction process as smooth as possible.

Infrastructure improvements are crucial for the success of rural communities. The Nogales commercial port of entry had over 153,000 trucks cross through the USA/Mexico border in 2020. Ensuring that routes are efficient and safe help Southern Arizona continue as a competitive business region.

FPAA promotes COVID-19 tests for industry

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:16 GMT

Nogales, Ariz.-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas has taken part in a COVID-19 testing event, is planning a series of webinars and has announced two promotions.

Testing for the coronavirus was held Nov. 10, 12 and 13, said FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer.

“We worked with local health providers and Arizona State University,” he said.

The event, made possible by a state grant, was hosted with the produce industry in mind but was open to the public.

It was designed to set a baseline to determine where COVID-19 was in the community at the start of the season, Jungmeyer said.

Results were available in 24-48 hours.

Those who tested positive were advised to isolate and take other precautions.

Those who did not have COVID-19 received the message “‘Protect your negative’ — make sure you are masking up, handwashing and frequently disinfecting surfaces,” he said.

People let their guard down during the summer, Jungmeyer said. But now, during the holiday season, it’s time to be extra cautious.

“It’s important to remember that we have personal responsibility to ourselves, the community and to where we work,” he said.

As of November, the network of local produce distributors had been fortunate.

“We didn’t see any companies that were knocked out because of (COVID-19) last season, and we don’t want to see that this season, which is why we’re trying to put our best foot forward at the beginning and make sure we’re doing a lot of testing,” he said.

Members of the produce industry and the public also were encouraged to get a flu shot.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the association did not hold its Spring Policy Summit this year.

Instead of the usual two-day event, FPAA will hold a series of one-hour webinars throughout the season on topics such as the impact of tariffs; International Trade Commission investigations of exports of blueberries, strawberries, bell peppers and certain other commodities to the U.S.; and a look at the future of trade, imports, inspections and the overall U.S.-Mexico relationship, Jungmeyer said.

On the personnel side, FPAA staff members Georgina Felix and Emmis Yubeta have been promoted.

Felix, most recently foreign affairs director, has added director of operations to her title; and Yubeta, most recently membership programs coordinator, has been named director of membership and events.

The association also is considering hiring a communications director, Jungmeyer said.

Related content:
West Mexico early tomato market shows strong prices
West Mexico distributors hope for uptick in business
Trade talk with FPAA’s Lance Jungmeyer

52nd Nogales Fresh Produce Convention and Golf Tournament

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 22:10:12 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) will be celebrating its 52nd Nogales Fresh Produce Convention and Golf Tournament from November 4th – 6th, 2021 in the historical town of Tubac, Arizona.

The signature event provides an opportunity for buyers, growers, distributors, and allied industry partners to meet and network. This year, attendees will be able to join educational sessions, networking events, an awards gala, and multiple golf tournaments.

Educational Sessions:

Dan Scheitrum, from the University of Arizona will kick off FPAA’s educational sessions. Scheitrum will be presenting data about a new study conducted by the UA Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics: Bell Peppers and Squash: A Tale of Two Sectors.

Keynote speaker, Juan Ciscomani, Senior Advisor for Regional and International Affairs from the Office of Governor Ducey will be part of the second educational session; Building Up Arizona, Building Up Your Business.

The last educational session, FPAA & The Power of Connections, will feature FPAA members who are involved with key fresh produce industry organizations including the National Watermelon Promotion Board, National Mango Board and Texas International Produce
Association.

Networking Events:

On November 4th, the FPAA provides two separate events focused on networking. To kick off the convention, a Networking Lunch will take place shortly after registrations followed by the educational sessions. The day concludes with an opening Fiesta & Networking Event where attendees have another opportunity to meet with buyers, growers, distributors, and industry partners.

Awards Gala:

To celebrate the fresh produce industry, the gala event will feature a sit-down dinner and live entertainment. This event includes an awards presentation for the FPAA’s 2021 “Pillar of the Industry” recipient. The “Pillar of the Industry” is awarded to a member who has volunteered their time and effort to the industry as well as demonstrated innovation and integrity throughout their career.

Golf:
The FPAA is excited to welcome back golfers at the historical Tubac Golf Resort and Spa. This year, the FPAA will be offering a 2-man scramble golf tournament format. Additionally, golfers will also have the option to participate in one-day tournaments and a two-day tournament.

The FPAA looks forward to welcoming members of the fresh produce industry to the 52nd Nogales Produce Convention and Golf Tournament and gathering in-person. To learn more about the upcoming event or to register, visit the online registration link .

FPAA 2021 Member of the Year- The Essential Worker

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 19:26:54 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is recognizing the commitment of those who worked during the peak of the COVID19 pandemic. This year, the Essential Worker has been selected as the 2021 Member of the Year.

The Essential Worker represents all those who contributed to the success of a secure food supply during the last year. A term that was used by the government early in the pandemic to define who could go to work, the Essential Worker eventually became synonymous with everyone who continued to work in the physical offices.

From warehouse workers to administrative staff, the award is dedicated to all the employees of FPAA member companies.

Last year brought many challenging and uncertain times, where laborers quickly adapted as companies restructured to meet the needs of consumers.

The FPAA and its members witnessed high vaccination rates among employees and a consistent onsite workforce that ensured fresh ingredients across North America.

“The women and men who kept the office going, steered the forklifts, handled the Quality-Control, paid the payables, they are the glue of the community, and the primary reason our companies have kept going in the past year,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. “Without the Essential Worker, we would be nowhere.”

The 2021 Member of the Year – Essential Worker will be announced during the FPAA annual meeting taking place on November 4th, 2021. The association is planning various events for the upcoming year where member companies and their teams of essential workers will be invited to celebrate.

Produce industry veteran Walter Ram named FPAA 2021 Pillar of the Industry

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 04:36:52 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) Pillar of the Industry recognition award highlights accomplishments for a member who has exhibited a history of volunteering time, effort, and impactful contributions to support the association and the fresh produce industry.

This year, the FPAA is honored to announce Walter Ram, Vice President of Food Safety at Giumarra Companies, as the 2021 recipient.

With over 25 years of experience, Ram is considered a food safety expert among his peers. In addition to his role at The Giumarra Companies, Ram has dedicated countless hours working with various government agencies to develop food related plans and guidelines for the entire produce industry. Throughout his career, Ram has been active with many groups including the United Fresh Produce Association’s Food Safety and Technology Council, the Center for Produce Safety Technical Committee, and the CPMA Food Safety Committee.

Ram’s active role at the FPAA, where he currently sits as a member of the executive committee, has been instrumental in the betterment of the industry. Ram has been actively participating with the association for over 20 years and was previously awarded the Member of the Year Award in 2014. Additional recognitions for Ram include The Packer’s 2012 Importer of the Year and United Fresh 2013 Technical Award.

“This year’s Pillar of the FPAA has held up not only his own company, but countless other FPAA members who have called him for help and technical advice, oftentimes in the middle of a crisis,” said Lance Jungmeyer, President of the FPAA. “Walter has advised Commissioners of FDA, CEOs and entire produce industry commissions. I can’t tell you how many people who have told me how fortunate they have felt when Walter picked up their call.”

In 2006, Ram was recognized by industry peers when he was named co-chair of the United Fresh Food Safety & Technology Council, the industry’s strongest food safety group, and became a member of the United Fresh Board of Directors. This was the day before the spinach-related E. coli outbreak that forever changed how the produce industry operates. The industry rallied to set new norms in food safety that continue to drive public policy today.

In 2007, Ram lobbied the United Fresh Board of Directors to support mandatory food safety legislation. Ultimately, United Fresh became the first fresh produce association to endorse mandatory food safety.

In 2008, a Salmonella saintpaul outbreak was identified as being caused by tomatoes, which led FDA to recommend that consumers stop buying fresh tomatoes. Immediately, Ram joined an industry group that worked with FDA to find the source of the problem, later identified as peppers.

“Doing what Walter does requires boldness,” Jungmeyer added. “Making systemwide changes is neither easy nor popular. But sometimes it’s necessary.”

These are but a few of Ram’s contributions to the produce industry. For his many contributions and dedication to the industry, the FPAA congratulates Walter Ram on this achievement.

FPAA announces new board members

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 22:57:09 GMT

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) held its annual meeting on November 4th, 2021.

Attendees had the option of joining the meeting virtually through the Zoom platform or in-person at the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa. This year the FPAA hosted the meeting just prior to the start of the 52nd Nogales Produce Convention and Golf Tournament to celebrate FPAA members and elect a new board as the association headed into its convention.

The FPAA membership consists of Distributor and Associate member companies. Open board seats available included two-year terms for eight Distributor members and one-year terms for two Associate members. During the 2021 Annual Meeting, members had the opportunity to submit nominations for the available seats. FPAA Chairman, Leonardo Tarriba of Farmer’s Best International, led this portion of the meeting.

Tarriba began the second year of his two-year term as Chairman. Tarriba was joined by Chairman-Elect, Rod Sbragia, from Tricar Sales and Past Chair, Scott Vandervoet, from Vandervoet & Associates who also have one year remaining in their positions.

The Following Six Distributors Were Re-Elected to a Two-year Term for 2021-2023:

Raquel Espinoza of Produce House
Juan Manuel Ibarra of Marengo Foods
James Martin of Wilson Produce
Juan Pablo Molina of Fresh Farms
Walter Ram of The Giumarra Companies
Mikee Suarez of MAS Melons & Grapes

The Following Two Distributors Were Newly Elected for a Two-Year Term for 2021-2023:

Omar Losolla of Seeded Produce
Guillermo Martinez of Frello Fresh

The Following Associate Member Was Re-Elected to a One-Year Term, 2021-2022:

Chuck Thomas, Thomas Produce

The Following Associate Member Was Newly Elected for a One-Year Term, 2021-2022:

Alejandro Suarez, Suarez Brokerage

The Following Were Re-Elected as Division Chairmen:

Tomato Division Chairman:

Jimmy Munguia, Del Campo Supreme

Mango Division Chairman:

Chris Ciruli, Ciruli Brothers

These 8 Directors Have One Year Left on their two-year terms, 2020-2022.

Bobby Astengo of Peppers Plus
Gonzalo Avila of Malena Produce
Martin Ley of Shipley Sales
Matt Mandel of SunFed
Jose Antonio Martinez of Divine Flavor
Eric Meyer of Prime Time
Bert Monteverde Jr. of H.M. Distributing
Lesley Sykes of The Sykes Co.

Nogales U.S. Customs Brokers Association Seat:
Demetrio Kyriakis of K&K International Logistics continues as the FPAA Board Representative of the Nogales US Customs Brokers Assoc.

“To serve one another’s interest in the industry is an elevated calling for Members of the FPAA,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. “The FPAA is blessed to have great returning board members as well as some new faces.”

The FPAA is excited to welcome new and re-elected board members.

Their commitment and dedicated in supporting the mission and goals of the organization contributes to the growth of the organization.

FPAA continues to serve the Nogales industry

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:47:19 GMT

The Nogales, Ariz.-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas is putting more emphasis on social media this season as it continues its efforts to support members who provide the U.S. and Canada with a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables from Mexico.

The association also continues to cooperate with local health officials to support COVID-19 vaccinations and flu shots and is working with various government agencies and other entities to achieve funding and enact legislation to advance the local agriculture trade.

FPAA has encouraged members to get COVID-19 vaccinations.

“Because of the efforts of the county and the industry, I think our county is above 80% vaccinated,” said Allison Moore, vice president.

Santa Cruz County has the highest vaccination rate in Arizona and some of the highest vaccination rates in the country, she said.

Produce businesses implemented protocols recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to combat the virus, but Moore said many food safety procedures already in place – such as handwashing and various sanitation policies – helped minimize its impact.

FPAA staff has helped ensure that the county and community had the resources needed to fight COVID-19 by arranging, for example, for the delivery of food to vaccine clinics on a daily basis, said president Lance Jungmeyer.

The association named “The Essential Worker” as its 2021 member of the year – a testament to all those who continued to work every day at jobs such as sales, accounting or driving a forklift in a very labor-intensive business, Jungmeyer said.
“We are spending this year coming up with ways to honor the essential worker,” he said.

FPAA also has been able to step up its interaction with government representatives and lawmakers.

“The virtual environment really has us talking with Washington, D.C., a lot more frequently,” Jungmeyer said.

That’s good for FPAA members because staff is meeting with government representatives on a weekly or even daily basis rather than a few times a year in a week-long series of intense meetings, he said.

The association deals with a range of issues including International Trade Commission cases, Customs and Border Protection concerns and Food and Drug Administration matters.

Moore said that with the passage of President Joe Biden’s comprehensive infrastructure bill, the industry is hopeful that some local projects may come to fruition, including improving access to the Rio Rico industrial park, where many of the Nogales-area distributors are based.

The association strives to keep such projects top of mind among federal and state government representatives and transportation officials.

Funding also is anticipated for Mariposa Port of Entry projects, such as improving non-intrusive inspection equipment.
“We work on issues ourselves, but we also collaborate with other groups, as well, to advance initiatives,” Moore said.
For example, FPAA has worked with the United Fresh Produce Association to maintain increased funding levels for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children that were set during the pandemic.
The association also is working on an economic impact on the Nogales industry and what it means for jobs in fields such as technology and solar energy, Jungmeyer said.

“We’re always interested to see how this industry contributes,” he said, in order to justify funding for infrastructure and other projects.

Those who want to enhance their public speaking and leadership skills can avail themselves to the benefits of the Toastmasters club sponsored by the FPAA.

Moore is past president of the club and now serves as vice president of public relations, and FPAA communications coordinator Andrea Ortega is secretary.

Ortega joined the association about a year ago and has beefed up its social media programs, such as Facebook and Twitter, and regularly updates the FPAA website.

“Anything that is newsworthy that we’re doing is on social media,” Ortega said.

FPAA also has kicked off a monthly webinar series on a wide range of topics, including crisis management, media training and research studies.