Chilean fruit industry gathers for annual dinner
Chilean fruit industry gathers for annual dinner
WILMINGTON, DE -- The ports of the Delaware River trade supporting the imports of Chilean fruit gathered in force April 30 at the third annual Taste of Chile dinner, here.
According to Sheryl Rothberg, executive director of the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, all 156 seats available for the posh event were sold. The menu featured a variety of Chilean products, including avocados, grass-fed beef, wines and white honey.
Presiding over the meeting was Robert Palaima, president of both the chamber and the Delaware River Stevedores, which is based in Philadelphia. Greeting the crowd was Mariano Fernandez, Chilean ambassador to the United States, who noted that this is the 20th anniversary of the chamber in Philadelphia. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) also addressed the crowd.
Anne Bookout, vice president and general counsel of Royal Fumigation in nearby New Castle, DE, "on behalf of Team Wilmington" -- the port services of the city -- introduced the keynote speaker, Ronald Bown, who, since 1989 has been chairman of the board and chief executive officer of ASOEX, the Santiago, Chile-based Chilean Exporters Association. Mr. Bown spoke about a variety of challenges facing exporters of Chilean fruit, including fuel and labor costs.
According to Sheryl Rothberg, executive director of the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, all 156 seats available for the posh event were sold. The menu featured a variety of Chilean products, including avocados, grass-fed beef, wines and white honey.
Presiding over the meeting was Robert Palaima, president of both the chamber and the Delaware River Stevedores, which is based in Philadelphia. Greeting the crowd was Mariano Fernandez, Chilean ambassador to the United States, who noted that this is the 20th anniversary of the chamber in Philadelphia. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) also addressed the crowd.
Anne Bookout, vice president and general counsel of Royal Fumigation in nearby New Castle, DE, "on behalf of Team Wilmington" -- the port services of the city -- introduced the keynote speaker, Ronald Bown, who, since 1989 has been chairman of the board and chief executive officer of ASOEX, the Santiago, Chile-based Chilean Exporters Association. Mr. Bown spoke about a variety of challenges facing exporters of Chilean fruit, including fuel and labor costs.
