Marta Bentancur is the recently appointed president of the Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters (SHAFFE), the association that unites representatives from all significant Southern Hemisphere fruit exporting countries and aims to promote free trade and improve market access in the Northern Hemisphere countries. Ms Bentancur is based in Uruguay.
Fruitnet.com: How did you first get into the fresh produce business?
MB: I started working in the fresh produce business 25 years ago. I studied agricultural engineering at university, before becoming part of the citrus commission at the ministry of agriculture in Uruguay, where I worked on quality issues.
When did you start working for SHAFFE?
MB: I was invited to a SHAFFE meeting in 1995 in Brazil. Before then, SHAFFE was only involved in seedless fruit and apples and pears. In Brazil, they introduced citrus and started working with Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, which are big citrus producers, so then I got more involved, and in 2000, Uruguay took over the presidency of SHAFFE for one year. This year, I came back as president because of my experience in the citrus and blueberry sectors.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the fresh produce industry?
MB: The toughest challenge is to lead the industry towards a new paradigm – to be competitive both environmentally and socially. In Uruguay, we are working on these things, improving labour conditions, transparency and ethics. We need to gain both loyalty and fidelity from our clients.
Describe your typical day-to-day schedule?
MB: I get up very early, go to work, then plan my day. I do a lot of training on food safety in harvesting and in the packhouse. I do my best to alternate my responsibilities between work and family.
What is the first thing you do when you sit at your desk?
MB: The first thing I do is prepare my maté, which is a very popular infusion of yerba maté and hot water. Next, I grab a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the things I have to do that day. Then I realise I can’t possibly do all those things in one day and decide what to leave for the next day.
Do you prefer doing business over the phone or via email, or both?
MB: I like using both. Sometimes it can be scary on the phone if there is a big language barrier. This is when email becomes very useful.
How many people are there on your team?
MB: We have three people, excluding the export directors, who are usually very involved in what we do.
How much travelling is involved in your work?
MB: I used to travel a lot. Then I slowed down for a while. Now I am planning on doing more. I do a lot of travelling within the country, as well as to Argentina.
Where have you travelled to lately and where are you planning to go next?
MB: The last place I visited was Florida, US, for PMA. Next I am going to Santiago for the Southern Hemisphere Congress in December.
What do you love in particular about your job and what, if anything, would you change?
MB: I love the creativity and I enjoy facing new challenges. However, the business is so varied that sometimes I think it would be good to specialise more.
What do you do to unwind after a tough day at work?
MB: I do lots with my family and I go to the gym regularly. We also have a house by the sea for weekend breaks.
