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USDA PRAISES FRESH SECTOR'S EFFORTS

NEW ORLEANS -- Mike Dunn, assistant secretary of agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs, called the fresh produce industry the "shining light" of the nation's agricultural sector at the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association convention here.Dunn, who oversees agency functions such as marketing services, quality assurance and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, also said United

NEW ORLEANS -- Mike Dunn, assistant secretary of agriculture for marketing and regulatory programs, called the fresh produce industry the "shining light" of the nation's agricultural sector at the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association convention here.

Dunn, who oversees agency functions such as marketing services, quality assurance and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, also said United was important to the industry, and then read a letter from President Clinton praising the trade group's role in shepherding a new PACA law.

"You are the leadership of your industry," Dunn said to United members, gathered for the opening session of the three-day convention.

He said the Clinton administration views fresh produce as "the emerging sector of agriculture," particularly with regard to agriculture's future expansion and growth as a factor in trade. "Your industry is the shining light," he said.

Dunn was the first of several speakers that morning to identify the survival of PACA as a crowning achievement for United in 1995. That theme was also repeated by Tim Fleming, outgoing chairman of the association. (See related story on Page 33.)

The USDA representative even recounted an incident last year when, during a meeting in Iowa attended by Clinton, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and other government officials, Fleming expressed concerns about PACA, which at the time faced threats of dramatic reform or outright elimination.

"The president listened and had a discussion with Tim," and then told Glickman the administration should support the salvation of PACA, according to Dunn.

Dunn then read a letter addressed to the United assembly from the president in which Clinton said that "with your help, we were able to reform PACA" and at the same time prevent it from being rendered ineffective.