LETTERS: On helping businesses with international trade and healthier school lunches

Posted: Monday, September 7, 2015 2:00 am

Helping businesses with trade

International trade has been particularly important for my business. We’re a small coffee roasting company based in Boerne, Texas, with just five employees.

If we had pursued domestic sales, instead of international sales, we would not have achieved the levels of success we enjoy today. To sell coffee domestically, companies typically have to break into the retail market to grow effectively. But that strategy is expensive, because you must compete with well-known brands to get space on supermarket shelves.

Selling our coffee internationally is not without its challenges, however. International food and beverage regulations can be very difficult to manage, especially for a small company like ours.

International business is much easier in countries where the United States has trade agreements. Trade agreements harmonize standards and regulations across countries. For example, the trade agreements with the Dominican Republic and Central America have helped us significantly. For instance, you would think it is hard to sell coffee to Guatemalans, who are famous for growing coffee, but we have expanded our business there significantly. That is largely thanks to the trade agreements.

I’m glad Congress, including Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, recently passed the Trade Promotion Authority. This legislation will help the Obama administration finalize additional trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

I hope Congress supports more trade agreements, which are critical for small businesses and the workers we employ.

Susan Jaime, Boerne

Improving school lunches

With the new school year just begun, many parents are focusing on school lunches. In past years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had used our nation’s schools as a dumping ground for surplus meat and dairy commodities. Not surprisingly, one-third of children have become overweight or obese. Their early dietary flaws have become lifelong addictions, raising their risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Gradually, the tide is turning, however. New guidelines mandated by President Barack Obama’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, require doubling the servings of fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, less sodium and fat and less meat. A recent survey found these guidelines are supported by 86 percent of Americans.

Sixty-four percent of U.S. school districts now offer vegetarian options. More than 120 schools, including the entire school districts of Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia and San Diego have implemented “Meatless Mondays.”

Some schools have dropped meat from their menu altogether.

As parents, we need to work with school cafeteria managers and our own children to encourage the availability and consumption of healthy, plant-based school foods.

Joel Kriviak,

McAllen