International shipping is a complex process in any case, but it's especially so when the product is food. And complications grow even further when navigating worries of port strikes and fluctuating tariff policy. This episode of The Intermodal Logistics Podcast spotlights the companies that bring food in - the food importers -with an organization that represents them, the Association of Food Industries (AFI), and our guest, AFI President Bob Bauer.
Bob tells us about the process behind importing food, how importers bear the risk when identifying and shipping products, the shipping modes most commonly used and the types of products (like olive oil and nuts for example) that are produced in foreign countries because the U.S. can't do it alone. We go over how importers are approaching tariffs - while some are taking a wait-and-see approach and others are making moves. He also discusses how tariffs can affect importers and why there are concerns about the basis for these policies.
Plus, Bob talks about AFI's role in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and how it provides education on what it includes and compliance. He also goes over the importance of food standards, which the AFI has developed for products including the aforementioned olive oil, cashews, dried apricots and more. And we discuss AFI's upcoming Annual Conference, set for April 24-26 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Learn more about AFI at its website, www.afius.org, where you can also find information about attending the conference and other educational materials.
Get this episode on YouTube, where you can also check out our playlist for our 57 previous episodes on The Intermodal Logistics Channel. You can also listen right here using the player below, or find it on Apple, Spotify, or whatever your favorite podcasting platform may be.
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