Latest News From Imports

The Border Trade Alliance, an organization that supports policies that promote free and secure cross-border trade, congratulates President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their inauguration.

Today, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered formal comment to the U.S. International Trade Commission on two investigations into imports of strawberries and bell peppers into the American market.

GrubMarket has acquired domestic and imported fruit marketer Bengard Marketing Inc.

Today, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission on the urgent issue of unfair foreign trade devastating Florida’s and America’s domestic produce industry.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is asking the International Trade Commission to monitor and investigate imports of strawberries and bell peppers, following requests by Florida groups.

Magic Sun, Richmond, Va., known as a grower of conventional and organic tomatoes, is expanding to include blueberries, with plans to quickly ramp up production.

The Florida Tomato Exchange is keeping tabs on Mexican tomato imports through a new website, TomatoMonitor.com.

Vanguard International, Issaquah, Wash., has been named a gold-level member of Tru-Cape’s Millionaires’ Club, purchasing 2.5 million cartons of apples and pears from the South African exporter.

Hans Eben is the new CEO of Agricom Ltda., a Santiago, Chile-based wholly owned subsidiary of Westfalia Fruit Co.

Port Manatee, Palmetto, Fla., has earned recertification for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program.

The Trump administration plans to take steps to protect U.S. growers of seasonal produce against what it calls threats of increased imports.

Georgia produce growers, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and other groups recently testified to federal agencies that domestic growers face a “staggering increase" of produce from Mexico.

Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa border entry in California found $3.3 million in methamphetamine hidden in crates of cactus pads, the second such discovery in less than a week.

Federal trade and agriculture officials have rescheduled hearings for growers to testify on how foreign trade is harming U.S. agriculture, with a focus on the effects of Mexican produce imports on southwest growers.

The U.S. Department will start inspecting Mexican tomatoes entering the U.S. on April 4, as part of the suspension agreement with the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.

The Office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has scheduled hearings for growers to talk about concerns of unfair competition with Mexican products.

President Trump has signed into law a bill that adds agricultural inspectors and canine teams at border entry points to examine food imports.

A bill that authorizes the hiring of more inspectors at U.S. border to strengthen pest and disease control efforts is waiting for the president’s approval.

LGS Specialty Sales, New Rochelle, N.Y., has started its Moroccan w. murcott season, importing the clementines through April.

In the wake of trade deals that have left some U.S. produce growers unhappy about an influx of imported fruits and vegetables, the new American Grown campaign is taking its message to consumers instead of lawmakers.

Distributor Salix Fruits ended 2019 with 30% growth over 2018, in part because of its imported Argentine lemon program in the U.S.

The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo — GOPEX — is providing attendees with a behind-the-scenes look at PortMiami, a hub of international trade and commerce.

Sun World International LLC, Palm Desert, Calif., has added a Chilean and two Peruvian grape companies to its licensees list.

Produce Lovers, a vertically-integrated grower that ships blueberries from the Mexican state of Jalisco, is shipping conventional and organic berries through mid-June.

WP Produce, Miami, is reporting a strong start of the peak Dominican Republic avocado season, which it packs under the Desbry brand.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding observers of All Souls Day that some agricultural items used in holiday decorations are prohibited in the U.S. due to pest and plant diseases, including HLB.

Pumpkins can be carved into scary jack-o-lanterns this time of the year, but there’s something scarier when it comes to imported pumpkins: invasive species.

The U.S. Senate has passed legislation to address a shortage of agricultural inspectors at borders who inspect imports for invasive species and other potential threats.

Since Vanguard International expanded production and scope with the purchase of Peru’s Agricola Challapampa in 2016, the company has made investments to ensure a year-round supply from the country.

Diviine Flavor, Nogales, Ariz., is focusing on extending the Mexican grape season with fruit from Chile and Peru.

The Department of Commerce, acting on a request by U.S. tomato growers, is continuing its investigation into the dumping of Mexican tomatoes into the U.S.

Customs and Border Protection officers at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., found cocaine stashed in boxes of oranges.

Chicago-based Hazel Technologies Inc. has partnered with Dominican Republic avocado exporter WP Produce to use the post-harvest technology on Desbry brand avocados shipped to U.S. markets.

Mexican papaya grower-shipper Super Starr International, Colima, is promoting its food safety programs and track record.

With the ink on the new tomato suspension agreement still wet, the Florida Tomato Exchange has filed a request for continuation of the antidumping investigation of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. 

U.S. importers of European citrus will soon have to pay an additional 25% tariff after the World Trade Organization sided with the U.S. in its dispute with the European Union over illegal subsidies to Airbus.

Fruit importer LGS Specialty Sales, New Rochelle, N.Y., is promoting growing regions around the globe with the Dish to Discovery program.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The interests of Florida and America should come first, and the USCMA as it is written is a “bad deal,” Florida 

Alpine Fresh, Miami, is launching a new brand and redesigned logo that will appear on the company’s labels and packaging.

Fresh-Link Produce LLC, Nogales, Ariz., has hired Diane Ybarra in its sales department.

Seald Sweet International is branching out into avocados with a partnership with Mexican grower Valvilla Produce.

Guatemala’s exports of specialty vegetables and fruits to the U.S. have been steadily rising over the past two decades.

Numerous produce industry and other groups have issued statements in the wake of a new agreement setting floor prices for Mexican tomatoes sent to the U.S.

The relief of reaching a new  tomato suspension agreement between Mexican tomato growers and the Department of Commerce has come with misgivings about the effect of mandatory inspections at the border.

(UPDATED, 1:28 p.m.) Mexican tomato growers and the U.S. Commerce Department struck a deal for a new tomato suspension agreement late Aug. 20.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Pharr, Texas, recently stopped a load of limes containing $1.86 million in cocaine.

The Customs and Border Protection seized almost four tons of marijuana in a truck hauling jalapenos at the Otay Mesa cargo facility in San Diego.

Berry grower-shipper Always Fresh Farms, Winter Haven, Fla., has entered into a long-term partnership with Giddings Fruit S.A., a berry and cherry grower in Mexico and South America.

Sun Belle Inc., Shiller Park, Ill., is expanding relationships with growers following a decision by the Giddings Group, which supplies berries from Mexico and Chile, to market its own berries.

Following an industry vote that narrowly approved frozen mangoes to be included in National Mango Board programs, the board is seeking members to represent the frozen fruit.