The bureaucracy of moving produce in and out of Mexico is still clearly a challenge, but the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) voluntary security program by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has certainly helped.
Nogales companies that apply for the fast-track program and are able to qualify can expedite shipments with fewer impediments from customs officials.
“We don’t have the certification,” said Roberto Franzone, director of Arizona Sky Produce, Inc., “but the companies that we deal with do, so it streamlines border crossings.”
Rodrigo Diaz, marketing director at Diazteca Company, is a fan of the program: “CTPAT definitely expedites crossing the border; we have preregistration online so the process can start while the truck is en route. Mexican and U.S. customs brokers have the certification in advance of arrival at the border—and that’s very helpful.”
“We deal with over a dozen growers in Mexico, and many are not CTPAT certified,” said Edgar Duarte, sales manager for Higueral Produce, Inc., an importer and shipper that specializes in hot peppers, Roma tomatoes, and mangos.
“That makes it unwieldy for us to be CTPAT certified. Not having the certification may delay things a bit, but that just means we have to be better with scheduling.”
There’s no disputing that food safety, as shippers and receivers knew it in days gone by, has completely changed.
“The requirements of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program, CTPAT, and food safety regulations are changing the way the industry does business and we’ve adjusted accordingly,” said José Luis Obregon, president of IPR Fresh.
“I believe in a safe supply of food for American citizens,” Obregon said. “Mexico has been sending produce for a long time and they have successfully tightened their practices. They have to navigate U.S. customs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Food and Drug Administration—it’s just how it’s done today. Everyone is pretty much on board because there was plenty of time for the affected parties to provide input when these regulations were being drafted.”
This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full supplement.
