Karen: This is PKF Texas Entrepreneur’s Playbook, I’m Karen Love, Host and Co-founder. Today I’m here with Francess Casteneda Dyess, President of the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce. Welcome back to the Playbook Frances.

Frances: Thank you Karen for having me back.

Karen: Well you know with the expansion of the Panama Canal there are talks about carriers bypassing the West and East coast and actually were wondering how that’s going to impact the port in Houston.

Frances: That’s a good question because this is a wonderful opportunity for the City of Houston. Right now currently grapes from Chile go to Philadelphia first and then they’re trucked into Houston, so it would be wonderful if they could come straight directly to Houston and become fresher for all of our consumers. We know that the port is working with Chile to try to help make sure that there’s more fresh foods, but three things that need to be in place are one, working with the grocers, working with mom and pop shops and then also farmer’s markets. So for example if a container of plums come in and they are not accepted for various reasons by a grocer they can go to the mom and pop shops. If they do not accept them then they go to the Farmer’s Market. But bottom line, the fruit has to be sold and in the East End we are getting ready to open a Farmer’s Market at the Navigation Esplanade. Houston Produce Row is also in the East End so when all of this is fine and dandy and working well, we’ll be ready to help them with all kind of other infrastructure, business opportunities and employment.

Karen: Well that is brilliant and very strategic. I lover hearing about that and would love to hear more if you want to come back.

Frances: Thank you.

Karen: So for other port-related topics visit PKFTexas.com/portadvisoryservices. This has been another Thought Leader production brought to you by PKF Texas Entrepreneurs Playbook.