On The Radar: North America

Recently, centralized exams at the port in Newark, NJ have helped streamline the process. United Fresh raises awareness of these issues on the Hill and we have seen receptivity on the part of lawmakers. It’s crucial for importers to speak up, advocate, and lobby on issues that matter to them.”

Bruce McEvoy, director of global affairs for Seald Sweet and the affiliated UNIVEG Group NV (based in Belgium), says, “One of the best ways to keep the rule-making process moving is with a proactive embassy staff willing to make formal interventions at the ambassador level. Uruguay did this and so has Chile.”

Nancy Tucker, vice president for global business development for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) says, “PMA’s government relations team has strong working relationships with many U.S. government regulatory agencies. We offer input on matters of interest to our members, refer them to the appropriate agencies, and share our expertise on specific issues as needed. We also help our members connect with these agencies when they have questions about regulatory issues. Our website contains pages and links to provide members easy access to the information they need in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.”

Success Stories
South African Citrus Makes the Grade
South Africa is a citrus powerhouse, producing nearly two-thirds of the Southern Hemisphere’s annual supply. Though it took years of preparation and negotiation—and only 3 percent of South African citrus is destined for the United States—the fruit is now available in all 50 states from early summer through mid-November, courtesy of the Western Cape Citrus Producers Forum (WCCPF).

Founded in 1999 and now a consortium of 300 growers, the WCCPF is reaping the benefits of working closely with the USDA and FDA to implement stringent inspections and create extensive marketing support for U.S. grocers. Though exports begin in June, shipments surge by mid-July to coincide with the end of the U.S. growing season.

Increased Avocado Imports
“Peru is where Chile was fifteen years ago in terms of exports to the United States,” asserts the Peruvian Avocado Commission’s Equihua. Despite the enormous growth of the avocado market and the millions of pounds shipped from Mexico, he believes there is still room for more. “The U.S. market is still undersupplied. The Hass Avocado Board developed programs to grow the category with the support of all four sources—the United States, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. Ten years ago their combined production was 600 million pounds; last year it totaled 1.7 billion pounds. This explosion is thanks to awareness built by funding by the various national avocado associations.”