The Texas Produce Association (TPA) and the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) have revealed that next year’s America Trades Produce (ATP) conference will be held on 21-23 March 2012.
Taking place at the Tubac Golf Resort in southern Arizona, the event will be hosted just miles away from the state’s distributing hub of Nogales, according to a press release from the organisers.
Following a successful launch in McAllen, Texas last year, organisers said they are planning “a vibrant educational and networking programme” that will “get to the heart of issues” influencing the import of Mexican fruits and vegetables into the US.
The 2012 edition of the conference will also feature a tour of the local port of entry, and a dynamic range of guest speakers from both government and industry.
“When we partnered with FPAA for the ATP conference, our goal was to show how there are shared issues at southwest border crossings all the way from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean,” said John McClung, president of TPA, which is based in McAllen.
“We welcomed 300 people to the conference in McAllen, and we’re hoping to exceed the success in Nogales.”
The conference will feature a strong food safety component, according to FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer.
“As the US works to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, one of the first areas of emphasis is at the border,” Jungmeyer said.
“The FDA and its counterparts in Mexico are diligently working to successfully prepare the produce industry for compliance, and we will update the industry on these developments.”
Another session at the event will highlight findings from the US Chamber of Commerce study, titled “Steps to a 21st Century US/Mexico Border.”
Released in June, the study makes numerous suggestions to help streamline commerce and tear away bureaucratic red tape between the two important trading partners.
At ATP 2012, attendees will also have the chance to register for a 21 March tour of the Mariposa Port of Entry, which is undergoing a massive renovation that will make it the flagship land port of entry in the US when it opens in 2014.
The US$200m port renovation will include an increase from four commercial lanes to eight, and the facility will be powered in part by solar energy.
Organisers said visitors to ATP will learn how infrastructure improvements at the border entry should help facilitate trade, as well as enhance security.
“The west Mexico produce deal should be in full swing next March,” said Jaime Chamberlain, chairman of FPAA and President of Nogales-based J-C Distributing.
“We are looking forward to showing buyers the incredible amount of volume that crosses our border here in Arizona. At the time, the industry will probably be crossing more than 1,000 trucks of produce a day.”
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