The Washington Public Policy Conference is quickly approaching and Sarah Hoxie talks about the upcoming event with key industry members.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Produce industry leaders will have their voices heard October 1-3 on issues such as food safety, immigration reform, farm labor and the 2012 Farm Bill. The two day event consists of face-to-face meetings with law makers and staff, marketing strategy sessions and dialogues with cabinet officials.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Lance McMillan, National Sales Manager, Sunkist Growers, shares with AndNowUKnow, his take on the benefits of the conference, “Getting the chance to meet with the House and Senate representatives and pleading our case. Not always the outcome we’d like to hear but at least its is an avenue to have the people in charge listen to what we think and what we need.” Mr. McMillan also touches on the Farm Bill, the Snack Program, and Immigration.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Karen Caplan, Owner, Frieda’s Inc., joins AndNowUKnow to speak about the upcoming event and how they have helped to bring fresh voices this year, “One of the things that is different this year is they are having a panel of under thirty members of our industry talk and participate and give their perspective on how they feel and how they look at the industry; possibly different from the way we do.” Ms. Caplan, continues, “We established a scholarship in our mom’s name. With this scholarship we actually fund bringing up to four members of family businesses to Washington to participate in the Washington Public Policy Conference.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Dan’l Mackey Almay, President and Owner, DMA Solutions, speaks with AndNowUKnow about the WPPC conference, “I think the election year brings an interesting dynamic. I think United has done a great job of putting together a great panel of speakers. I personally am very interested in the 2012 Farm Bill as it relates to nutrition. I hope to see that the fruit and vegetable program, the $150 million in spending, is protected by our lawmakers in both the Senate and the House. United has created an opportunity for two days of congressional visits on the hill. It’s going to make it even more of a spectacular event.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Barry Bedwell, President, California Grape and Tree Fruit League, shares with AndNowUKnow some of the highlights we can expect at the two day event, “You’re looking at an election year. So we are going to be able to hear from people like former Senator and Presidential Candidate Fred Thompson. We’re going to hear from Charlie Cook of the Cook Report. I think you are really going to get some detail in addition to the ongoing conversation about where’s the Farm Bill going? #2 Where’s the Food Safety Modernization Act? #3 Where are we on Audit Harmonization? #4 If anything is going to happen on immigration. When? And How?”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
