LGMA News:
Mexico Opens Border to California Spinach
December 12, 2007
Sacramento, California – Mexico’s Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) stated last month that it is going to start allowing imports of California spinach into Mexico with one requirement - that all California spinach imports come from members of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA).
Since the Mexican border closed to California spinach in September of 2006 Western Growers and the Foreign Agriculture Service have been working with the Mexican government to reverse its decision. After a September 2007 meeting with Hank Giclas, Ken Gilliland, Matt McInerney of Western Growers and Scott Horsfall of California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement the Mexican government made the decision to reinitiate imports back into the country. Like Canada before it, Mexico stated that it would only allow California spinach imports from members in good standing of the California LGMA.
In addition to receiving approval from Canada and Mexico, the California LGMA has been used as a model for the newly created Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. LGMA Chairman Joe Pezzini stated, “We are very pleased to see Mexico re-opening its border to California spinach and that measures put in place by the California LGMA provided the Mexican government the assurance they were looking for in relation to safety of our product.”
LGMA CEO Scott Horsfall commended Western Growers Association for keeping this issue in front of Mexico’s authorities and facilitating a resolution.