Key National and Key National and Trade Marketing Trade Marketing

OrganizationsOrganizations

AEC 317AEC 317

December 3, 2014December 3, 2014

Perishable Ag Perishable Ag Commodities ActCommodities Act

• PACA, legislation of 1930PACA, legislation of 1930– Licenses required for certain kinds of Licenses required for certain kinds of

transactionstransactions– Governs Governs inter-state tradeinter-state trade– Recourse for Recourse for damages for non-payment, damages for non-payment,

fraud, or non-performance fraud, or non-performance of contractsof contracts– Investigations managed by the U.S. Secretary Investigations managed by the U.S. Secretary

of Agricultureof Agriculture– Violations can lead to serious financial Violations can lead to serious financial

penalties and disbarment from future trading.penalties and disbarment from future trading.

• How PACA helps growers - - How PACA helps growers - -

1.1.Lowers costs associated with risk of Lowers costs associated with risk of “hold up”“hold up”

2.2.Reduces number of “bad actor” Reduces number of “bad actor” buyersbuyers

3.3.Makes interstate trading more Makes interstate trading more securesecure

4.4.Protects the “little guy”Protects the “little guy”

Red Book Credit ServiceRed Book Credit ServiceProduce Industry Credit Produce Industry Credit

CouncilCouncil• Credit rating system Credit rating system

for fresh producefor fresh produce• Buyers rated by Buyers rated by

growersgrowers• Quarterly print and Quarterly print and

real time electronic real time electronic updatesupdates

• Redbook Credit Services

• Business Character Business Character AwardAward– Ethical, stable, Ethical, stable,

professional, reputable, professional, reputable, & admirable& admirable

Produce Marketing Produce Marketing AssociationAssociation

• National National produce trade produce trade associationassociation

• ““Fresh Summit”Fresh Summit”• International International

participation & participation & influenceinfluence

• Key industry functions Key industry functions ––– Lobby for political Lobby for political

interests of the interests of the produce industryproduce industry

– ImmigrationImmigration– Platform to establish Platform to establish

industry standardsindustry standards– Resources for the Resources for the

tradetrade– Created Center for Created Center for

Food SafetyFood Safety

• The Packer – Weekly trade The Packer – Weekly trade periodical for produceperiodical for produce

Packer Merchandising Guide: trade directory for shipping, packaging, promotion

USDA Ag Marketing USDA Ag Marketing ServiceService

• Market News ReportsMarket News Reports• Certify National Organic ProgramCertify National Organic Program• USDA food purchasesUSDA food purchases

– Schools, prisons, VA hospitals, other Schools, prisons, VA hospitals, other federally funded institutionsfederally funded institutions

• Country of origin labeling (COOL)Country of origin labeling (COOL)– recent debates over mandatory vs recent debates over mandatory vs

voluntary labeling led to mandatory voluntary labeling led to mandatory labels Sept 2008labels Sept 2008

National Ag Statistics National Ag Statistics ServiceService

Economic Research Economic Research ServiceService

• Commodity outlook Commodity outlook reportsreports– Fruit and Tree NutsFruit and Tree Nuts– Vegetables and MelonsVegetables and Melons

• Food markets, prices, Food markets, prices, & consumption& consumption

• Special research Special research initiatives on initiatives on horticulture industry horticulture industry issuesissues

Animal and Plant Health Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceInspection Service

• Import and export permitsImport and export permits• GMO certifications and proceduresGMO certifications and procedures• Biocontrol, noxious weeds, beesBiocontrol, noxious weeds, bees• Quarantine programs

Federal Agencies and Federal Agencies and Horticulture IndustriesHorticulture Industries

• How do they help growers?How do they help growers?

1.1.Unbiased market information for Unbiased market information for planning and coordinationplanning and coordination

2.2.Documented trends in supply and Documented trends in supply and demanddemand

3.3.Protect domestic produce supplies from Protect domestic produce supplies from pests and diseasespests and diseases

4.4.Certifications benefit consumers and Certifications benefit consumers and growers – verification and differentiationgrowers – verification and differentiation