FFVA show highlights importance of industry unity
FFVA show highlights importance of industry unity
BOCA RATON, FL -- While "Industry Crossroads" was the theme of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association's 64th annual convention, held here Sept. 16-18, the event also served to underline the importance of industry unity in the face of challenging times.
At the Cracker Breakfast Sept. 18, keynote speaker Larry Winget, author and host of the reality television show "Big Spender," brought attendees together with his unique style of humor in pulling from his best-selling book Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life.
Mr. Winget told the audience that "no one cares how good you used to be, you need to be good every time." He also zeroed in on four main points that will help a person become successful: take responsibility, be flexible, watch your attitude and lighten up. By taking responsibility for his or her own actions, a person is able to accept any consequences and move on. Of being flexible, he said that it is the key point to dealing with customers. With regard to attitude, he said that having the right outlook opens one up to new ideas, which often improves one's situation. And by lightening up, one is able to have more fun. "If you enjoy your career, you will be good."
Following Mr. Winget's light-hearted presentation, the first educational session took a decidedly serious tone. Martha Roberts of the University of Florida's Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences moderated "Charting the Food Safety Course in Florida." She was joined on the panel by Tony DiMare of DiMare Ruskin Inc., Shannon Shepp of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services' Division of Fruits & Vegetables, and Scott Horsfall of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
In kicking off the session, Dr. Roberts noted that the anniversary of the E. coli outbreak in fresh spinach had just occurred the week before and turned to the panel to offer its insight about where the industry is a year later.
Mr. Horsfall, who was named chief executive officer of the agreement in April, said, "What the leafy greens industry did in the last eight months was unprecedented. It was a major issue that cost a lot of time and money, but it did pull the industry together."
"I personally hate regulations and change, but that is what is happening in our business," said Mr. DiMare, who was quoted in an article in the Sept. 17 issue of The Wall Street Journal about the food industry inviting government oversight.
Ms. Shepp said that the FDACS "was honored" to be involved in the state's tomato-certification process, and that the goal is "to partner with the industry to bolster food safety."
Dr. Roberts then commented on the various factors that producers had to address with food safety, such as water and environmental issues, which struck a note with the panelists.
"It's a challenge to try to harmonize all of the segments. It's extremely costly to deal with," said Mr. DiMare, who added that each inspection runs about $3,000, and the fertilizer program at each of his company's facility costs about $12,000. "Then there is the issue of the constant education of workers, which is also costly. The economic impact grows each day. We have hired full-time staff to oversee our food-safety programs, and there is no way to pass along these costs."
Mr. Horsfall said that California producers face similar challenges as those of their Florida counterparts. "Some food-safety concerns conflict with environmental concerns, but we acknowledge that our agreement is a work in progress, and we will be adjusting it to meet the changing demands. "We also have companies that have hired staff to oversee their food-safety programs," Mr. Horsfall added.
The panelists said that it is important that the industry unify to develop standards. Mr. DiMare conveyed how some buyers are now requiring a buffer zone between fields and areas that could potentially compromise the safety of what is being grown. He said that in some cases the buffer zone is 15 feet, while other buyers want 40 feet.
"There is no science behind the buffer zones," he said. "Producers are doing it because they are afraid of losing a customer."
Mr. Horsfall agreed, saying that more research needs to be done because buyers are making arbitrary and often unreasonable demands with the buffer zones, which often requires growers to disc a portion of their fields.
But with all that said, Mr. DiMare maintained an optimistic attitude that is seemingly inherent in fruit and vegetable growers. "I am confident that our industry has taken the right steps, and I am confident of where we are as an industry and that we will get better."
In another nod toward industry unity, a second educational session brought together leaders of four major produce trade associations, who addressed a number of topics. On the dais for the session were John McClung, president of the Texas Produce Association; Tom Nassif, president and chief executive officer of Western Growers Association; Emanuel Lazopoulos of Del Monte Fresh Produce, who is chairman of United Fresh Produce Association; and Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
While the panelists were not optimistic that a new farm bill would be forthcoming this year and that the current farm bill would likely be extended, they stressed the need for the industry to stick together and not attempt to carve up the farm bill for personal gain.
Mr. Stuart said that the real challenge lies ahead when the bill is addressed by legislators, who will pick it apart.
Another point upon which panelists agreed was that the industry should fight to have U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors handle produce instead of the current system, which uses inspectors from the Department of Homeland Security.
"Quite frankly, bugs and pests are the number two and number three priority with DHS, as well they should be. DHS should be looking for terrorists," Mr. Stuart said.
Regarding immigration, panelists agreed that it has been an exhausting issue that the industry has fought for the last few years.
"I don't think I have ever seen a Congress as inept on any other issue than immigration," said Mr. McClung. "I don't see any way that immigration reform will be achieved."
"It's one of the most challenging issues I have ever faced," added Mr. Nassif, a former ambassador to Morocco.
"It's very frustrating, especially with the no-match rule coming down the pike," said Mr. Lazopoulos.
An awards luncheon was held following the session, which featured Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson as the keynote speaker.
Mr. Bronson applauded the Florida produce industry and Mr. Stuart for promoting specialty crops to Congress and said that he is "frustrated by the mood in Congress recently and its unwillingness to compromise on immigration reform. It will cause the agriculture industry in Florida and around the country to die off."
Mr. Bronson also touted the state's "Farm to Fuel" program, which attempts to keep farmland intact. Under the program, agricultural producers receive incentives to produce additional fuel crops on land that normally would not be in production.
Mr. Bronson said that agriculture in Florida is currently valued at $97 billion per year. A University of Tennessee report estimates that with Florida's Farm to Fuel program, there will be 100,000 new jobs created and the value of Florida agriculture will jump to $200 billion per year.
The luncheon also featured the Syngenta Scholarship Award; the George F. Sorn Scholarship Award; the FFVA Legislator of the Year Award, presented to Mary Bradenburg of the Florida House of Representatives; and the FFVA's Merchandiser of the Year Award, which was presented to Costco Wholesale Corp. and accepted on behalf of the company by Frank Padilla, assistant vice president and general merchandising manager of fresh foods for the company.
The convention also featured a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. Jay Taylor of Taylor Farms and FFVA chairman announced during the closing party Sept. 18 that auction proceeds reached $27,000, breaking last year's mark of more than $26,000.
At the Cracker Breakfast Sept. 18, keynote speaker Larry Winget, author and host of the reality television show "Big Spender," brought attendees together with his unique style of humor in pulling from his best-selling book Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life.
Mr. Winget told the audience that "no one cares how good you used to be, you need to be good every time." He also zeroed in on four main points that will help a person become successful: take responsibility, be flexible, watch your attitude and lighten up. By taking responsibility for his or her own actions, a person is able to accept any consequences and move on. Of being flexible, he said that it is the key point to dealing with customers. With regard to attitude, he said that having the right outlook opens one up to new ideas, which often improves one's situation. And by lightening up, one is able to have more fun. "If you enjoy your career, you will be good."
Following Mr. Winget's light-hearted presentation, the first educational session took a decidedly serious tone. Martha Roberts of the University of Florida's Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences moderated "Charting the Food Safety Course in Florida." She was joined on the panel by Tony DiMare of DiMare Ruskin Inc., Shannon Shepp of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services' Division of Fruits & Vegetables, and Scott Horsfall of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement.
In kicking off the session, Dr. Roberts noted that the anniversary of the E. coli outbreak in fresh spinach had just occurred the week before and turned to the panel to offer its insight about where the industry is a year later.
Mr. Horsfall, who was named chief executive officer of the agreement in April, said, "What the leafy greens industry did in the last eight months was unprecedented. It was a major issue that cost a lot of time and money, but it did pull the industry together."
"I personally hate regulations and change, but that is what is happening in our business," said Mr. DiMare, who was quoted in an article in the Sept. 17 issue of The Wall Street Journal about the food industry inviting government oversight.
Ms. Shepp said that the FDACS "was honored" to be involved in the state's tomato-certification process, and that the goal is "to partner with the industry to bolster food safety."
Dr. Roberts then commented on the various factors that producers had to address with food safety, such as water and environmental issues, which struck a note with the panelists.
"It's a challenge to try to harmonize all of the segments. It's extremely costly to deal with," said Mr. DiMare, who added that each inspection runs about $3,000, and the fertilizer program at each of his company's facility costs about $12,000. "Then there is the issue of the constant education of workers, which is also costly. The economic impact grows each day. We have hired full-time staff to oversee our food-safety programs, and there is no way to pass along these costs."
Mr. Horsfall said that California producers face similar challenges as those of their Florida counterparts. "Some food-safety concerns conflict with environmental concerns, but we acknowledge that our agreement is a work in progress, and we will be adjusting it to meet the changing demands. "We also have companies that have hired staff to oversee their food-safety programs," Mr. Horsfall added.
The panelists said that it is important that the industry unify to develop standards. Mr. DiMare conveyed how some buyers are now requiring a buffer zone between fields and areas that could potentially compromise the safety of what is being grown. He said that in some cases the buffer zone is 15 feet, while other buyers want 40 feet.
"There is no science behind the buffer zones," he said. "Producers are doing it because they are afraid of losing a customer."
Mr. Horsfall agreed, saying that more research needs to be done because buyers are making arbitrary and often unreasonable demands with the buffer zones, which often requires growers to disc a portion of their fields.
But with all that said, Mr. DiMare maintained an optimistic attitude that is seemingly inherent in fruit and vegetable growers. "I am confident that our industry has taken the right steps, and I am confident of where we are as an industry and that we will get better."
In another nod toward industry unity, a second educational session brought together leaders of four major produce trade associations, who addressed a number of topics. On the dais for the session were John McClung, president of the Texas Produce Association; Tom Nassif, president and chief executive officer of Western Growers Association; Emanuel Lazopoulos of Del Monte Fresh Produce, who is chairman of United Fresh Produce Association; and Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association.
While the panelists were not optimistic that a new farm bill would be forthcoming this year and that the current farm bill would likely be extended, they stressed the need for the industry to stick together and not attempt to carve up the farm bill for personal gain.
Mr. Stuart said that the real challenge lies ahead when the bill is addressed by legislators, who will pick it apart.
Another point upon which panelists agreed was that the industry should fight to have U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors handle produce instead of the current system, which uses inspectors from the Department of Homeland Security.
"Quite frankly, bugs and pests are the number two and number three priority with DHS, as well they should be. DHS should be looking for terrorists," Mr. Stuart said.
Regarding immigration, panelists agreed that it has been an exhausting issue that the industry has fought for the last few years.
"I don't think I have ever seen a Congress as inept on any other issue than immigration," said Mr. McClung. "I don't see any way that immigration reform will be achieved."
"It's one of the most challenging issues I have ever faced," added Mr. Nassif, a former ambassador to Morocco.
"It's very frustrating, especially with the no-match rule coming down the pike," said Mr. Lazopoulos.
An awards luncheon was held following the session, which featured Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson as the keynote speaker.
Mr. Bronson applauded the Florida produce industry and Mr. Stuart for promoting specialty crops to Congress and said that he is "frustrated by the mood in Congress recently and its unwillingness to compromise on immigration reform. It will cause the agriculture industry in Florida and around the country to die off."
Mr. Bronson also touted the state's "Farm to Fuel" program, which attempts to keep farmland intact. Under the program, agricultural producers receive incentives to produce additional fuel crops on land that normally would not be in production.
Mr. Bronson said that agriculture in Florida is currently valued at $97 billion per year. A University of Tennessee report estimates that with Florida's Farm to Fuel program, there will be 100,000 new jobs created and the value of Florida agriculture will jump to $200 billion per year.
The luncheon also featured the Syngenta Scholarship Award; the George F. Sorn Scholarship Award; the FFVA Legislator of the Year Award, presented to Mary Bradenburg of the Florida House of Representatives; and the FFVA's Merchandiser of the Year Award, which was presented to Costco Wholesale Corp. and accepted on behalf of the company by Frank Padilla, assistant vice president and general merchandising manager of fresh foods for the company.
The convention also featured a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. Jay Taylor of Taylor Farms and FFVA chairman announced during the closing party Sept. 18 that auction proceeds reached $27,000, breaking last year's mark of more than $26,000.
