Market Access Partnerships Strengthened

at Export Meetings

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC), a non-profit, private sector trade association which provides a forum and structure for exchanging/coordinating information and cooperation between all branches of the federal government and the private sector to promote agricultural exports.

USAEDC's annual attaché meeting, which provides an opportunity for consultations with representatives from the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), was held on July 14 – 16. Close to 100 staff from 50 FAS offices worldwide participated in the attaché meeting.

ABC staff (Julie Adams and Kristi Mika Saitama) and a delegation of almond industry members (Christine Long, ABC Board of Directors Chairperson, Brian Dunning, Warren Cohen and John Aguiar) participated in the conference; in addition, a special meeting was scheduled with representatives from FAS European offices to discuss the current status of aflatoxin testing, rejections, and MRL legislation.

Other meetings took place with government officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review the pasteurization program; the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to discuss market access issues, Foreign Trade Agreements and their potential implications; the USDA/Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to discuss the VASP; USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to discuss import certification; and USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to address promotion funding and industry priorities.

The week provided a great opportunity for those in federal positions to meet with almond industry representatives to learn more about the challenges and potential growth opportunities in the global market. It was also a unique opportunity to reconfirm the importance of our partnership with FAS field offices. Because two-thirds of California Almonds are exported, ensuring the sustainable growth of the almond industry necessitates facilitating international trade and strengthening ties with these government agencies.