What major challenges—weather, water shortages, border violence—worry your members most?
McClung: Water is THE big issue for the next decade. Anyplace you have arid land agriculture—and the produce industry loves arid land as there are real benefits to growing in areas where the water supply is limited—you’re going to need water.
We’re no exception down here in Texas; we need water and this will continue to be a global issue. We’ve dealt with water issues in Texas for many years and will continue to do so, so our experience makes us well suited to address this issue. There are changes coming in the way water is managed, which will be a preoccupation for the industry for a long, long while to come.
If you were speaking to a college graduate or a young person looking to start a career in the produce industry, what advice would you give?
McClung: I’d tell him/her to learn to speak Spanish, first. And I would make sure he/she understood that like so many industries, produce is becoming more and more about science, so you better at least know the rudiments of the applicable sciences, which would be a big advantage.
But the industry’s still going to be a growing one for years to come. People are consuming more and more fruits and vegetables, and that’s on an international level. It’s a good business to be in; people will always need to eat.
Lance Jungmeyer is president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA), a nonprofit trade group founded in Nogales, Arizona in 1944. Today, it represents more than 100 members who grow, harvest, import, and distribute produce from Mexico. Jungmeyer has led the organization since 2010 and in this interview, we discuss the changes he has seen in the industry during his tenure, the current challenges FPAA members face, and what might be coming in both the near and distant future.
What do you consider the most significant industry change over the last few decades, particularly regarding the Hispanic market?
Jungmeyer: I would say the most significant was NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in 1993, which ushered in a new spirit of cooperation and a new ideal about how the United States viewed food. Since that time, availability of Mexican fresh fruits and vegetables has grown exponentially. Getting rid of the duties was an important aspect; fresh fruit from Mexico is no different than a New Yorker getting lettuce from California.
In addition, the infrastructure has grown and the ability to get trucks to and from the market is better. Many parts of Mexico that were pretty inaccessible twenty years ago, can now get to market. Mexico has also matured as an export-oriented industry, as U.S. retailers have demanded quality arrivals, traceability, and food safety.
In the next two or three years, what types of opportunities will arise for produce companies trading in Hispanic items?
Jungmeyer: Hispanic items are really two different things—what’s grown and how it is marketed. Certain items might be considered Hispanic, like dried chili peppers or tomatillos; then there are tropical items that you might consider to be Hispanic like papayas and mangos, but are widely consumed by all markets. What Mexico grows, they’re often growing for the United States market as a whole.
