50�SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2025�ABASTO.COM FOOD INDUSTRY By: Mary Heslep, Ten Acre Marketing N ational Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated each year from mid-September to mid-October, is an opportu- nity for the fresh produce industry to refect the con- tributions of people of Hispanic descent across the industry of fruits and vegetables. With a brighter light shone today on Hispanic communities across the U.S. it’s even more timely to acknowledge their contributions to our industry. According to an article published in NBC News in 2022, the economic output of American Latinos would rank ffth in the world if the community were an independent coun- try.1 Te presence of this community is undeniable across the North American specialty crop supply chain. The Culture Behind the Flavor Lance Jungmeyer, the Executive Director of the Fresh Pro- duce Association of the Americas (FPAA) shared, “National Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to honor the food traditions that are such a big part of today’s produce section. Te recipes and favors of Mexican national and regional fa- vorite foods, in particular, owe their success to fresh fruits and vegetables, so many of which are supplied by members of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.” Te FPAA is a member-organization serving the needs of more than 100 North American companies involved in the marketing, import, and distribution of Mexican produce. Ac- cording to FPAA, Mexico represents 39 percent of all imported fruits and vegetables consumed in North America annually. From the felds of the Pacifc Northwest, Shay Myers, CEO of Owyhee Produce shares why he celebrates Natio- nal Hispanic Heritage Month, stating, “without the people and without the culture, we would more than struggle as an industry. It’s the Hispanic culture that has created people that are hard-working and generationally motivated, and generational thinking is something we have lost in Ameri- can culture.” Workforce Supporting the Fields Shay is a vocal advocate for the H-2A visa program. During the pandemic, his voice put him on the viral social media map when he invited anyone willing to visit his farm and pick asparagus, a crop that would have been left to waste due to the early days of the pandemic restricting essential workers from coming into the U.S. to harvest food. Shay continues to advocate for the Hispanic workforce which the We Celebrate the Hispanic Heritage in Every Part of the Agricultural Industry U.S. specialty crop supply chain is so reliant on. In his words, “celebrations and recognition are the easy part because that’s exactly what it takes. We should give more recognition where it is due.” Hispanic and Female Leadership Also celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, Julie Escobar, Founder & CEO of Global Women Fresh added, “National Hispanic Heritage Month is a powerful opportu- nity for the produce industry to celebrate the cultural rich- ness, innovation, and dedication that Hispanic communi- ties bring to every part of the supply chain. From the felds to executive leadership, their contributions are foundatio- nal to the global food system.” Global Women Fresh is a non-proft organization bringing together Women in Produce — from the front lines to the front ofces — to close the gender divide in our industry. A Call to Action Julie continued, “As a proud Colombian woman and foun- der of Global Women Fresh, I believe this month is not just about recognition but about building stronger global con- nections and honoring the people behind the produce, es- pecially the women in Latin America who are leading with purpose and vision.” Across borders and acres, these industry leaders are en- couraging the global supply chain to celebrate National His- panic Heritage Month by sharing stories, highlighting His- panic leadership at all levels, supporting Hispanic-owned businesses, and creating space for authentic conversations across cultures. “Ultimately, it’s about strengthening the global commu- nity that drives us all forward,” added Julie. Tis National Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s join in re- fecting on the contributions of the people and professio- nals of Hispanic descent across the produce supply chain, celebrating their collaboration and ensuring that they too, have a seat at the table as the fresh produce industry conti- nues to grow in diversity, representation and voice.