WASHINGTON DC - News broke this morning that President-elect Donald Trump is nominating former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as the new Secretary of Agriculture. Industry leaders Lance Jungmeyer and Bret Erickson both took the time to share with me their thoughts on the move and what it might mean for the industry.

Bret spoke on the role NAFTA has played, and continues to play, in how our industry operates.

“NAFTA plays an integral role in getting fruits and vegetables safely and efficiently to U.S. consumers. We know the administration will take a hard look at NAFTA," Texas International Produce Association's President and CEO shared with me, saying that he was happy to hear about the nomination.

“We view it as a positive that President Trump is continuing the tradition of bringing in people with agricultural backgrounds in at the state level,” Lance, President of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, told me. “Sonny Perdue served in an important ag state, for fresh produce especially, and I think he’ll see the big picture for trade.”

One of the big questions is what this shift in administration could mean for programs like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

“The overwhelming stance I’d say of the industry is we don’t want to see an end to NAFTA; we don’t want to see both sides having to pay a higher amounts because, in the end, that helps no one. I think previous secretaries have looked to what has worked in the past and so my hope with this nomination is that that is what will continue,” Lance shares.

Perdue was born in Perry, Georgia, having graduated from Georgia University with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. He later went on to build two businesses in both agribusiness and transportation before going into his political career.

So it is with optimism and hope that we wait to see what this new chapter in our industry and our country’s history has in store. As we report more, keep checking in with AndNowUKnow.

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