Increased trade of fresh fruits and vegetables between Mexico and the US ultimately rests on better supply chain and food safety processes.
That was the stand-out message from last week’s America Trades Produce (ATP) conference, the annual event jointly organised by the Texas Produce Association and the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
During the three-day event, Adam Salerno of the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) pointed out that inefficiencies in the supply chain – largely due to security issues – continue to restrict fresh commerce growth between Mexico and the US.
Salerno recommended several measures that could relieve border bottlenecks, which included: modernising port infrastructure; increasing port staffing; less intrusive inspections that damage product; and developing systems that accelerate clearance of fresh produce without compromising security.
In addition, representatives from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged the industry to learn from recent food safety issues.
The agency also pointed out that the private sector also has a role to play in developing rules for the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in the US.
More than 250 representatives from the US and Mexican fresh produce industries gathered outside of Nogales, Arizona, on 21-23 March for the 2012 edition of the ATP conference.
The full report is published in the April/May issue of Americafruit.
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