International Fresh Produce Association

International Fresh Produce Association
Name	International Fresh Produce Association
Abbreviation	IFPA
Formation	2021
Predecessor	United Fresh Produce Association; Produce Marketing Association
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	McLean, Virginia
Region served	Global
Membership	Producers, distributors, retailers, suppliers
Leader title	President and CEO

International Fresh Produce Association The International Fresh Produce Association is a global trade association representing the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, formed through the merger of two major North American organizations to consolidate advocacy, research, and market development for perishable produce. It provides a platform for producers, retailers, importers, exporters, logistics firms, and technology providers to coordinate on safety, standards, supply chains, and trade issues, interacting with governments, standards bodies, and trade organizations worldwide.

History

The association was established in 2021 through the merger of the United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association, following negotiations that involved leaders from California Citrus Mutual, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, and stakeholders linked to the United States Department of Agriculture, US Food and Drug Administration, and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Its formation occurred amid evolving trade discussions with parties engaged in United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement compliance, European Union import rules, and supply chain adjustments after the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Early organizational milestones referenced precedent organizations such as United Fresh Produce Association's produce safety campaigns and Produce Marketing Association's global trade shows, while collaborating with entities like World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, and regional groups such as Canadian Produce Marketing Association.

Organization and Governance

Governance draws on models used by Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association, with a board including executives from multinational retailers like Walmart, Tesco, Ahold Delhaize, and grocers such as Kroger and Costco Wholesale Corporation. Leadership interacts with regulatory officials from US Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture and trade negotiators involved in agreements like United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement and organizations including International Trade Centre and World Trade Organization. Advisory councils include representatives from commodity groups such as California Avocado Commission, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and exporters active in Peru, Mexico, and Chile. Corporate governance borrows board and committee practices from associations like National Restaurant Association and American Farm Bureau Federation.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs continue legacy initiatives in produce safety and sustainability, building on frameworks developed with Food and Drug Administration guidance, collaborations with United States Department of Agriculture research centers, and partnerships with NGOs like World Wildlife Fund and Rainforest Alliance. Initiatives address cold chain logistics improvements with participants such as Maersk, DHL, and FedEx, traceability pilots with technology firms like IBM and SAP, and labor and social responsibility projects aligning with standards from International Labour Organization and Fairtrade International. Market access programs coordinate with export promotion agencies including ProChile, ProPeru, and U.S. Commercial Service.

Industry Advocacy and Policy

Advocacy efforts engage with lawmakers in bodies such as the United States Congress, the European Parliament, and trade negotiators at the World Trade Organization to influence tariffs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and inspection regimes. The association lobbies on issues related to pesticide tolerances with Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking, import inspection protocols with US Food and Drug Administration, and labor policy conversations referencing standards from the International Labour Organization. It has submitted position papers during regulatory proceedings involving Food Safety Modernization Act implementation and participated in consultations with the European Commission on fresh produce requirements.

Research, Standards, and Safety

Research partnerships include collaborations with academic institutions such as University of California, Davis, Cornell University, University of Florida, and international research centers like International Potato Center and CIP (Centro Internacional de la Papa). Standards and certification efforts build on protocols from Global Food Safety Initiative, GlobalG.A.P., and national programs such as Safe Quality Food Institute, while working with laboratories accredited by bodies like ISO and regional testing networks in Mexico and Chile. Safety programs emphasize traceability, pathogen control, and postharvest handling, leveraging science from entities like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and collaborations with private firms like DSM and Syngenta on supply resilience.

Events and Educational Activities

The association hosts flagship conferences and expos modeled after legacy trade shows similar to United Fresh Start Conference and PMMI trade events, featuring supplier showcases, policy panels with representatives from USDA and FDA, and technical sessions led by academics from Cornell University and UC Davis. Educational programming includes webinars, certification courses, and fellowship programs that mirror industry training offered by organizations such as National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and Produce Marketing Association’s historical curricula. Events draw participants from retailers like Walmart, Tesco, and exporters from Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Netherlands.

Membership and Global Partnerships

Membership encompasses growers, packers, shippers, retailers, wholesalers, and service providers from regions including North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Strategic partnerships involve alliances with commodity groups such as California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, trade bodies like Canadian Produce Marketing Association, and development organizations such as United Nations Development Programme and USAID. The association engages certification bodies including GlobalG.A.P. and private-sector partners like IBM and Maersk to support members’ global market access and technical capacity.

Category:Food industry trade associations Category:Agricultural organizations