The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) has made J-C Distributing's Jaime Chamberlain its 2013 Member of the Year for his role in averting a trade dispute between the US and Mexico over tomatoes.
'He helped bring home the impact on US business during this very important debate on trade,” said FPAA president Lance Jungmeyer as he presented the award at the FPAA's annual membership meeting in Nogales, Arizona.
Chamberlain added: 'All of the things I do, talking to the press, attending meetings with elected officials, advocating for increased trade between the US and Mexico, I do on behalf of our industry. We must continue to work together to bring real, tangible benefits to our companies and our employees.'
The event saw the FPAA elect a new chairman of its tomato division, JJ Badillo of Calavo Growers, who replaces Alejandro Canelos of Apache Produce Imports.
It concluded with the re-election of four FPAA distributor directors and the election of three new ones: Chris Ciruli of Ciruli Brothers, Atanasio Panousopoulos of Delta Fresh, and JJ Badillo.
