Pearce Works to Reopen Border for Local Businesses
Washington,
Sep 24, 2004 -
Congressman Steve Pearce worked to reopen the New Mexico-Mexico border which was recently shut down by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) because of a Mediterranean fly found in a shipment in Tijuana, Mexico.
“As soon as I heard about this situation, we immediately called the USDA and suggested they review their decision and open the border up,” said Pearce. The next day the USDA lifted the restriction and allowed the border to be reopened for these small businesses.
Because of Pearce’s immediate response, businesses like Jurado Farms and Border Foods were able to keep their crops from rotting and continue business as usual with only a minor delay.
“We’re sitting here about 700 to 800 miles from Tijuana,” said Arturo Jurado, owner of Jurado farms in Southern New Mexico who was left with seven trucks filled with chili peppers along with plenty more ready to be picked in the fields. “I couldn’t get the product out of Mexico into here to process it,” he continued. “It was an extreme action on their part. It would have been economically devastating for my business.”
Scott Chandler, an official at Border Foods, a company that brings in chili peppers from Mexico, faced a similar situation. “We have 10 to 15 loads a day waiting for us,” said Chandler. The affect this restriction would have had on Border Foods would have been extreme. “There’s a limited window to pick this stuff. There would have been a domino affect—116 employees would have had to be sent home,” said Chandler.
“I was just real impressed with how fast he got it open,” said Chandler. “My CEO, Norman Mackenzie, and I express our thanks to the Congressman. It was crucial.”
Pearce added, “I am pleased the USDA quickly reopened the border after reviewing the matter more closely. Any longer and our small businesses in Southern New Mexico would have been adversely affected by the closure.”
