MISSION, Texas - Numerous stakeholders in the international fresh produce sector met recently to discuss best practices.
Commodities Integrated Logistics (CIL Group) hosted the day-long event, which included representatives from the American Chamber (AmCham) of Commerce in Mexico-Monterrey Chapter, Border Trade Alliance Mexico, the Texas International Produce Association, and Pharr Economic Development Corporation.
A discussion on the state of the industry took place at CIL’s Klub Nautique, next to the Rio Grande in Mission, Texas. There were also visits to see cold storage facilities belonging to Reveal and Transkool.
At the Klub Nautique gathering, David Eaton, president of the AmCham Monterrey Chapter, announced that CIL Group founder and president Joaquin Spamer would be the group’s representative for the Reynosa-McAllen area.
“The AmCham Monterrey Chapter came to McAllen with a keen interest in learning from and engaging with the top experts in the cross-border perishable trade,” Spamer said.
“The McAllen area stands out as a strategic hub for the North American cold chain industry, and this event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the key players in the region.”
Spamer also represented BTA Mexico at the event.
In addition to Eaton, the AmCham Monterrey Chapter was represented by the president of its foreign trade committee, Luis Fernando Martinez, general director Grace Lingow, and business development and institutional relations manager, Yanick Brisson.
The Texas International Produce Association was represented by Dante Galeazzi, the group’s president and CEO, and Hector Garza, who leads the group’s industry relations committee.
Pharr EDC was represented by its president and CEO, Victor Perez.
Victor Perez, President/CEO
El Dorado Growers was represented by its CFO, Alberto Pedraza.
Farmer’s Best was represented by Nicanor Garza, operations manager for the group’s Texas Division.
La Bonanza was represented by its president, Gabriel Villaseñor.
Reveam was represented by Chip Starns, the group’s co-founder and vice president.
The Consulado General de USA en Matamoros was representative by Jeremy Presto and Jessica Segura.
In addition to Spamer, CIL Group was represented by Jose Carlos Camou, co-founder and CEO at CIL Fresh, Fernando Ramos, general manager at Trokadero de CIL, Dalith Cantu, industrial development executive at CIL Capital, Rodrigo Lamas, the group’s strategic planning director, Ingrid Ulloa, the group’s economic development executive, and Astrid Salazar, the group’s institutional and government relations director.
