New Global Produce Industry Announced

  • Nov 10, 2021

On October 28, the Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association announced the name of the new global organization resulting from the merger of their two organizations: the International Fresh Produce Association. The IFPA — which will begin on January 1, 2022 — will be based in Delaware.

In announcing the name of the new organization, IFPA leadership reiterated their commitment to promoting all domestic and global sectors of the fresh produce and floral supply chains. The Co-CEOs of IFPA, Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel, were joined by Executive Committee members to share details concerning the new organization, including its Board of Directors. Cathy Burns will take the role of CEO of IFPA in January 2022.

Members of the fresh produce and floral industries have long recognized the potential value that might be achieved by combining PMA and United Fresh, and multiple attempts to do so in the past were not successful. However, in 2021 the boards of both organizations endorsed an Agreement in Principle to form a new association designed to serve today’s global fresh produce and floral industries and the current organizations’ CEOs, Burns and Stenzel, share that commitment.

The California Avocado Commission has been a member of both the PMA and United and plans to continue with membership in the IFPA. CAC has played a leadership role in the PMA and has a long history of active participation with the organization. The Commission will continue to leverage the events, research, assets and networking opportunities of this organization as a means of demonstrating its industry leadership and building awareness beneficial to the California avocado industry. The Commission will exhibit at IFPA’s new “The Global Produce and Floral Show” in Orlando, Florida from October 27 – 29, 2022.

California avocado industry stakeholders are encouraged to view the complete list of IFPA-organized events for 2022. For more information about the merger of the two organizations, interested parties can view the IFPA frequently asked questions online.

IFPA is committed to growing profitability and demand for domestic and global produce and floral sectors.

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