Fresh produce industry leaders from the US and Mexico met on 11 February in Mexico City to formalise the Alianza Hortofrutícola Internacional para el Fomento de la Responsabilidad Social' (AHIFORES), a commitment to social responsibility.
As a demonstration of support for the new organisation, Mexico’s secretary of agriculture Enrique Martinez y Martinez hosted the members of the Alliance and appointed under secretary of agriculture Jesus Aguilar as his liaison with the organisation.
AHIFORES’ mission is to enhance the visibility of Mexico’s fresh produce industry’s long term commitment to the integral development of farm workers, as well as to actively promote industry wide awareness and consistency in the implementation of socially responsible business practices.
Members include fresh produce associations and their key volunteer leaders from both the US and Mexico, who met and agreed on 14 November 2014 to create AHIFORES.
Members currently represent 90 per cent of Mexico’s fresh produce industry, including top exports such as asparagus, avocados, berries, citrus, grapes, mangos, papayas and tomatoes, among others.
The organisation represents the first time such a broad array of associations and industry leaders have joined together to work towards a common goal, and outside private and public sector experts will be invited to contribute as AHIFORES moves forward in executing its objectives.
