USDA to Deliver Free Webinar about PACA Services – In Spanish

USDA to Deliver Free Webinar about PACA Services – In Spanish

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2011 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture will deliver a free webinar, in Spanish, on June 23, 2 p.m. ET, highlighting Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) Branch services. 

Every business day, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) receives inquiries from produce companies requesting assistance to handle problems such as interpreting inspection certificates, settling contract disputes, and addressing bankruptcy payments. The PACA Branch helps these companies by promoting a code of fair business practices.
PACA supports the produce industry by educating companies about their rights, mediating contract disputes, arbitrating decisions, licensing companies, and enforcing legal judgments against debtors. “The PACA Branch offers a number of valuable educational tools, including online training seminars, that produce companies can use to their advantage,” said Robert Keeney, deputy administrator of the Fruit and Vegetable Programs.

An Introduction to PACA – In Spanish is part of an ongoing webinar series presented by USDA to keep the fruit and vegetable industry informed about the programs available to support them. This is the first webinar to be delivered in Spanish. “The Hispanic population plays a large role in the produce industry, so we felt it was important to deliver this webinar in Spanish,” said Keeney. Previous webinars are available at http://bit.ly/fvwebinars.
Pat Romero, regional director in the Western Regional PACA office in Tucson, Ariz., will explain how PACA helps companies resolve business disputes and protects the fruit and vegetable industry. Following a formal presentation, webinar participants will have the opportunity to ask questions
Registration for the webinar is free and is required to participate. Signing up is possible by visiting http://bit.ly/lENTGB.
For more information about registering for the webinar, contact Christopher Purdy, Business Development Specialist, USDA AMS Fruit and Vegetable Programs, tel. (202) 720-3209, christopher.purdy@ams.usda.gov. Additional information is also available at www.ams.usda.gov/FruitandVegetable.
 More information about PACA can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/PACA