Industry association supports Biden nominees
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) joined the Food & Agriculture Associations’ letter addressed to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance supporting Secretary of Agriculture nominee, Thomas Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative nominee, Katherine Tai.
Vilsack, who has been nominated to serve as Agriculture Secretary in the Biden Administration, also served as secretary of Agriculture during the Obama Administration and has since been involved with the Dairy Export Council. Additionally, Vilsack has a strong background in developing rural communities.
As U.S. Trade Representative, nominee Tai will work closely with President Biden as his principal trade advisor and will also oversee trade negotiations with other countries. Tai has extensive experience in trade negotiations and also played a key role in the most recent United States-Mexico-Canada Agreeme
U.S. blueberry industry groups testify at ITC trade hearing
January 13 , 2021
Groups representing two different sectors of the U.S. blueberry industry testified on Tuesday at a hearing before the U.S. International Trade Commission, as part of its probe into whether foreign trading partners are seriously harming domestic growers.
The Blueberry Coalition for Progress and Health, which was announced last week, maintains that imports haven t hurt domestic farmers and have in fact helped to grow the market to the benefit of all.
The American Blueberry Growers Alliance (ABGA) meanwhile claimed rising Latin American imports in the spring and fall were responsible for a sharp decline in prices over recent years.
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas lauds Congressional letter
With billions of dollars at stake, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas commends Senators Sinema (D-AZ) and Moran (R-KS) and Representatives Schweikert (R-AZ) and Cuellar (D-TX) for leading a bipartisan, bicameral letter raising significant concerns with the Trump Administration’s Section 201 investigation on imported blueberries and Section 332 investigations of imported strawberries, bell peppers, squash and cucumbers.
“The support of this Congressional letter is hugely important for American companies involved in trade, especially with the knowledge that the trade investigations being launched undermine the new USMCA,” said FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer. Jungmeyer notes the trade agreement was signed last year without a so-called seasonality clause because that was the will of the agriculture community at large. Indeed, the Congressional letter follows an industry letter signed by nearly three d
Broad American and International Coalition Formed to Oppose Limitations on Domestic Blueberry Imports
Broad American and International Coalition Formed to Oppose Limitations on Domestic Blueberry Imports Ahead of the incoming Biden Administrations first major trade dispute, American and international blueberry berry growers, importers, distributors, purchasers, and suppliers have aligned to form The Blueberry Coalition for Progress & Health. The Coalition has been organized to oppose limitations on blueberry imports, including the upcoming International Trade Commission hearing on blueberry imports. All members of the Coalition agree that imports are not a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic blueberry industry. In fact, the U.S. blueberry market is healthy, thriving, and is doing its best to keep up with the year-round marketplace demand for this healthy and nutritious fruit.
Industry association welcomes communications coordinator
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) announced that Andrea Ortega has joined the organization as a communications coordinator.
Ortega, a local native to the area, graduated from the University of Arizona and has a strong background in marketing, communications, event coordination, import/export knowledge and project management from her work in various organizations. These include the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Peace of Mind Events, Grupo GOCM, Tubac Golf Resort & Spa and the Tubac Chamber of Commerce where she completed one of her last roles as executive director.
Ortega is also involved with various organizations including Arizona Industry Fellows (part of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce) and the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation where she sits as an economic development advisor.