Hort Council on Trade Pt 2 with Fruit Bites

Hort Council on Trade Pt 2 with Fruit Bites

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. Northwest tree fruit growers have reason to be smiling with a nice harvest season across the board, but export issues still linger. The recently announced NAFTA replacement, called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, is, according to Northwest Horticultural Council president Mark Powers, reason to for optimism ...

POWERS ... "I think that, in our own industry, yes, although I have to say that right now everybody's focused on just getting the crop in the barn, so to speak, and I think that the retaliatory tariffs are what's really harming people and the focus of what can we do to fix things in that regard and take these retaliatory tariffs off of apples, hopefully ensure that India doesn't institute its 25% retaliatory tariff on November 2nd."

Powers says the hard work that went into the USMCA could give us some trade momentum...

POWERS ... "Those same people, those same experts, those same negotiators that are working on NAFTA, are working on China, they're working on Japan, they're working on the EU, and so, at a certain point capacity is a real issue and I think clearing the deck, so to speak, from NAFTA and letting the negotiators take a deep breath and say okay, let's focus on China again, as an example, or on some other country, will be beneficial and will allow the administration to be more offensive minded."

Power says apples are the player in Mexico and a lot of our objectives were met with the USMCA.

All three nation's need to ratify the deal before it becomes official.

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BL: Welcome back to another "Fruit Bites" brought to you by Valent U.S.A. With us, as always, is Valent's Allison Walston. So Allison, this week we're talking about connecting Farms to Schools.

AW: October is National Farm to school month. Whether it is planting school gardens or teaching students where food comes from, these programs help inform students about agriculture in ways they might not be exposed to at home.

BL: We could even inspire the next generation of gardener, farmer or rancher.

AW: or agricultural scientist or even entomologist

BL: So, during National Farm to School month, how can we get involved?

AW: Usually there are partnerships with each state's Department of Ag or Education as they tend to oversee these programs.

BL: Maybe if you have an orchard or farm, reach out & volunteer to host a school field trip?

AW: I just sponsored a student to attend the National FFA meeting.

BL: EXAMPLE

AW: Support farm to school programs in your community. For more info in Oregon, visit the Oregon Department of Ag's website and search for Farm to School.

BL: You got it Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I'm Bob Larson.

https://oda.fyi/FarmToSchool

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