Meat+Poultry - April 2023 - 42

EXECUTIVE SERIES
Potts expressed concern
that some discussions
about meat and poultry
policy issues have sunk into
highly partisan debates
because of the turn national
politics has taken.
in all of agriculture. But I'm hopeful, with
changes, that we can get more workers into
our plants, " she said. " We're not in this alone.
We need the cattlemen, other meat and poultry
trade associations, to help solve this problem.
Because last year, the industry produced more
meat and poultry than ever. "
Trade is another big issue for her members.
There needs to be a return to negotiated
free trade agreements in agriculture and ag
industries. " We'd like to see UK, African,
Vietnam tariff protection. "
" The supply chain - we need to get our
seaports working again, like they used to.
There is an ongoing effort to acquire CO2
supply, which is lacking, for stunning and
chilling animals. What can we do to achieve
that supply? "
" Proposition 12, an effort to ban the sale
of veal, eggs, or pork by imposing California
animal care regulations in every state in the
US, will hurt the industry everywhere, and will
hurt all consumers. Our members are waiting
for a Supreme Court decision on this issue. You
can't impose regulations city by city or state by
state all across the country, based on what one
state - California - enacts, " she explained.
POLITICAL HEADWINDS
Potts is also greatly concerned about the turn
that national politics has taken, and its effect
on the meat and poultry industry.
" When you politicize food, that is a loser for
everyone, " she said. " Our industry, consumers,
farmers, ranchers, all lose out. " She thinks
that some of the discussions about meat and
poultry policy issues have sunk into highly
partisan debates.
" Traditionally, especially in food safety,
between career people at FSIS and processors,
there was no politics. Food safety has always
42 MEAT+POULTRY | 04.23 | www.meatpoultry.com
been our number one, number two, number
three issue. That's the culture in meat and
poultry production and processing, and that
is how it always has been. But when you start
focusing the attention on the supply chain,
empty store shelves, you get into partisan
discussions. Then everyone loses - both
upstream and downstream. "
Potts is hopeful things will return to how
they used to be. " Coming from the Senate
Agriculture Committee, we worked hand in
hand to be agreeable. There was collaboration
between members of the Democratic and
Republican parties. Today, I think that has
changed. Not because of disagreement over
food and agriculture policy, but because of
things like, 'I win, you lose.' "
" I think the industry enjoys a good working
relationship with USDA-FSIS. We can have a
dialogue with Jose Emilio Esteban, the new
Under Secretary for Food Safety, who came
from inside the agency, when there are issues
to discuss, " she said.
" We work together under the requirements
set by the Meat and Poultry Inspection acts.
Right now, there is a big push to work on the
Salmonella issue, and we (the industry) and
the government are working diligently.
" We just want to have a productive, open
dialogue. Someone like Alexis Taylor, Under
Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural
Affairs, for example, is very good to work
with, " Potts said.
In any case, she is extremely optimistic
about the meat and poultry industry.
" I'm very bullish on our industry. I have
great confidence and am very proud of our
industry. The project that we are working on,
with all phases of agriculture, not just meat and
poultry - is a great undertaking. And I'm very
proud of what we're doing. "
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