The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is preparing for the 2018 Spring Policy Summit, a two day event that will take place on March 20 and 21 at the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa in Tubac, Arizona.
This event focuses on policies and regulation among government agencies in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The summit brings in regulators from all areas of U.S. and Mexican government to a two day event filled with open dialogue updates on a variety of industry topics such as the Unified Cargo Program, food safety, and much more.
“This kind of meeting brings together stakeholders with regulators in a setting that invites collaboration and constructive input,” said Lance Jungmeyer, President of FPAA “Our mission is to educate and monitor about changes that could impact our industry, and to create partnerships that help guide the produce industry towards achieving lasting, long term positive changes.”
Jungmeyer said that the unique mix of agencies invited to the Spring Policy Summit – ranging from food safety to Customs to transportation – brings value to the industry. This event includes the participation of U.S authorities at the federal, state, and city levels as well as Mexican government officials who are involved in the planning and decision making of areas related to U.S. Mexico trade.
Two important sessions included in this year’s program:
Key note Speaker (invited), Under Secretary Greg Ibach of the USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a broad mission within the U.S. government. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within USDA are vital offices for the produce industry. From impacting trade through the Agriculture Inspection policies carried out by CBP at the border to managing promotion boards like the National Mango Board, overseeing the National Organic Program, and conducting Marketing Order inspections, the Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs is an important partner in the success of our industry. Hear from the Under Secretary, Greg Ibach about the latest initiatives from the USDA and how they will impact the imported produce industry.
Success Story of Collaboration Trade Facilitation, Border Crossings, and the Arizona/Mexico Border. Hear from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Mexican Customs as they talk about Trade, Unified Cargo Processing, the PITA Program, Processing Efficiencies, and more to facilitate trade between the U.S. and Mexico. This exciting discussion will further the dialogue on how the U.S. and Mexico are coordinating to better facilitate the flow of goods across the border. Invited speakers include, Guadalupe Ramirez, (Acting) Director of Field Operations, Tucson Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Jose Martin Garcia, Ministry of Finance, Embassy of Mexico.
For more information:
Erika Dominguez
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Tel: +1 (520) 287-2707