THE produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) International Council met in Shanghai, China, recently, along with Rabobank’s north-east Asia representative, Patrick Vizzone.
The meeting focused on the opportunities and challenges in the global produce supply chain and, more specifically, on China’s current and future role as a significant exporter and importer of fruit and vegetables.
The findings from the collaboration are being incorporated into a white paper, which PMA will make available from May 15, 2006.
The council, chaired by Michael Simonetta, chief executive officer of Perfection Fresh Australia, included grower/shippers, retailers, brokers, and wholesale/distributors from 10 countries.
Other attendees included PMA board chairman, Janet Erickson, executive vice president, purchasing and quality assurance, Del Taco, Inc.; PMA board member, Lisa McNeece, vice president, foodservice and industrial sales, Grimmway Farms; Robert Verloop, vice president, marketing and sales promotion, Sunkist Growers, Inc.; PMA president, Bryan Silbermann; and other staff.
With the assistance of the USDA agriculture trade office in Shanghai, the delegation toured retail operations to examine how produce is merchandised to consumers in China.
The agenda also included on-site tours of a traditional wholesale market, a vegetable production operation and the Shanghai Sunqiao Modern Agriculture Development Zone, where the group studied the modern greenhouse production of tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables.
Sunkist Growers, Inc. sponsored a reception that brought the delegation together with more than 80 representatives of 45 Chinese-based produce companies. During her presentation at The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry Leaders Reception, Erickson said: “The world, as we know it, has changed forever. China is a big part of the produce industry’s future and we are here to learn more.”
INDUSTRY ON THE MARCH
PMA took to the streets recently to call for improvements to US immigration policies. The group took part in the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform’s (ACIR) March on the Hill held in Washington, DC. The march focused US policymakers’ attention to developing workable solutions for the critical issue of immigration reform in US agriculture.
“Both the fresh produce and nursery segments stand to lose billions of dollars in annual production if immigration policies to secure a legal and stable agricultural workforce are not reformed,” said Kathy Means, PMA vice president, government relations, who along with Lee Mannering, PMA manager, government relations, represented the association at yesterday’s march. “Any immigration reform bill, such as AgJOBS or bills with similar provisions, which pass Congress must ensure access to a legal workforce to ensure our industry can continue to survive and compete.”
Studies suggest that unless viable guest worker programmes are enacted, economic losses for the produce industry would have a ripple effect on the US economy.
A recent economic analysis estimated that the produce industry could suffer short-term losses of $5 to $9 billion in annual production, if nothing is done.
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