AMHPAC is a Mexico-based organization for the horticultural and produce industries. Each year, the organization hosts a convention to analyze and discuss important issues for the industry, including the risks and opportunities for the sector. This years' AMHPAC Annual Convention is going to take place on September 5 and 6, 2019 at Ensenada, BC, Mexico and is an international event attracting visitors from around the world.
"This convention is aimed at national and international leaders of the Horticultural Industry," said Alfredo Diaz, CEO of AMHPAC. "On this occasion, we expect participants from 24 states of the Mexican Republic, more than 20 national and international buyers and representatives of major banking and insurance institutions to provide Decision-Makers with better business opportunities and to lift the Mexican industry into a greater position with our potential customers."
Retail landscape, crisis management to be discussed
A number of key speakers have been invited to take part in the convention and to share their knowledge. Some of the topics that will be discussed include:
• The current global landscape in the retail area for fresh produce;
• Crisis management from a leader in this field;
• Politics by Dr. Denise Dresser - a topical subject at this time, as Diaz explains;
"Our Keynote Speaker - Denise Dresser - is the author of numerous publications on Mexican politics and the relationship between the United States and Mexico, so she is going to talk about political and economical perspectives," he said.
On this note, AMHPAC is pushing for less reliance on the US market and instead looking to branch out to new markets. "We depend on practically a single market, with 96 percent of our horticultural exports destined for the United States and 4 percent to Canada," Diaz noted. "Our production is concentrated in very few crops especially tomatoes, which according to our statistics, makes up 68 percent of total production, followed by cucumbers at 15 percent, bell peppers 13.5 percent, and eggplant and specialties 3.5 percent. This is one of the most important reasons why it is imperative to redouble our efforts to penetrate new markets.
Convention agenda
The AMHPAC convention is going to held at the Torre Lucerna Hotel and Vinicola El Cielo in Ensenada. Below is the schedule of main events:
Sept. 5, Torre Lucerna Hotel:
• 6th. AMHPAC’s Annual Race
• Opening Ceremony
• Conferences
• Networking Cocktail
Sept. 6, Vinicola El Cielo:
• Tradeshow
• Networking
• Social Gatherings
"As every year, the main representatives of all the different links in the productive and distribution chain of Mexican produce will be gathered, who can listen to the speakers and talk about the most relevant industry subjects in an environment where attendees will get the best experience," Diaz Belmontes summarized. "Hence the need to seek to sell to new markets and diversify and sell new crops. The foregoing is more urgent, because due to the protectionist policies of President Trump we are already applying a tariff of 17.56 percent on tomato exports in addition to the announcement that he recently made to apply tariffs to all Mexican exports. In the case of tomatoes, we are already paying the tariff as of May 7, 2019 with distressing results. If tariffs are applied to the rest of Mexican exports, it would be an extremely difficult situation for the Mexican economy. In this case, negotiations are underway to eliminate these measures."
For more information:
Karina Reyes
AMHPAC
Ph: +52 (667) 715-9868
karina@amhpac.org
www.amhpac.org