Soo Kim (202) 720-8998 soo.kim@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct a free interactive webinar on Aug. 26, featuring information about the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), a law designed to ensure fair trade practices in the fruit and vegetable industries by regulating their marketing in interstate and foreign commerce.
USDA invites everyone who is currently engaged in, or interested in engaging in, interstate and foreign commerce of fresh produce to learn about PACA and how USDA administers the law to protect industry participants.
“These webinars help provide a direct connection for the industry to the resources and services USDA offers” said Robert Keeney, Deputy Administrator of the Fruit and Vegetable Programs. “The PACA program in particular is important to American agriculture since it encompasses the entire marketing chain, from farmer to retail customer. By helping our industry understand more clearly key issues like PACA licensing, USDA can positively impact the security and welfare of their livelihood while potentially boosting trade.”
Karla Whalen, chief of the PACA Branch, will lead the webinar. The PACA Branch is part of the Agricultural Marketing Service’s Fruit and Vegetable Programs and carries out the law’s intent by rendering services that protect sellers’ trust assets, help resolve disputes between transacting parties, and settle claims and address complaints.
Currently, about 14,500 market agents are licensed under PACA. The webinar will provide information that enables them to gain the fullest protection offered by the law. In addition to reviewing the law’s requirements and USDA’s responsibility in regulating them, a USDA expert will be available live to answer questions from participants.
PACA—Your Partners in Produce will be held Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. EDT, and hosted by Red Book Credit Services as part of the free Red Book University educational offering. Registration is free and is required to participate. To request a registration form, contact Olga Kehmeier, Red Book Credit Services, at okehmeier@rbcs.com, or by phone at (800) 252-1925 ext. 744 or (913) 438-0744.
The ongoing webinar series aims to provide information that supports the fruit and vegetable industries. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is pleased to make available audio recordings of the webinars at www.ams.usda.gov/FruitandVegetable.
On Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. EDT the USDA and Red Book Credit Services will also host USDA Fresh Products Branch’s Market Inspection Basics to provide an overview of the USDA inspection process for fresh fruits and vegetables.
For more information about this or any of the other webinars in the series, contact Christopher Purdy, Business Development Specialist, at (202) 720-3209, christopher.purdy@ams.usda.gov. More information is also available at www.ams.usda.gov/FruitandVegetable.
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