With Fresh Del Monte Chief Operating Officer Mohammed Abbas serving as executive sponsor, the company will deploy experienced leaders to actively contribute to the initiative’s working groups. Raul Saca, senior vice president of global logistics and former executive at Maersk and DP World, will lead engagement in the Harmonized Standards committee. The working group will identify and align existing standards relevant to fresh produce supply chain. “Retailers today contend with 4 to 8 percent shrink on the shelf,” said Abbas. “That level of waste is unnecessary — we have the tools and data to do better.”
Steve Alaerts, chair of IFPA’s Supply Chain Council, emphasized the collaborative nature of the program: “Data doesn’t move food. Collaboration does. This initiative is about bringing the industry together to break down data silos and foster trust across the supply chain.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome Fresh Del Monte to this movement,” said Drew Zabrocki, innovation lead for the initiative. “This isn’t just a trend — it’s a revolution. We’re not talking about incremental change. We’re building a new operating reality where data transparency and collaboration deliver value for all, from grower to consumer.”
The initiative’s white paper outlines the broader stakes: “The fresh produce industry stands at a precipice. We can continue with outdated, extractive business models that stifle innovation, or we can embrace a new era of open collaboration, where data empowers every stakeholder and fuels a more sustainable and equitable future.”
“The crossroads is clear,” said Alaerts. “Embrace open collaboration or risk continued value erosion. With leaders like Fresh Del Monte, we are creating an open, interoperable framework to reduce waste, improve efficiency and create shared value through partnership rather than extraction.”
There are several ways to get involved in the Supply Chain of the Future, including joining one of the working groups, signing on as a sponsor or participating in the program pilot series. These are all detailed on the Supply Chain of the Future website.
Industry members may also join the Supply Chain of the Future Symposium on June 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event, held in conjunction with The Washington Conference hosted by IFPA, is free and open to in-person and virtual participants. The event will be a fast paced opportunity to engage and network with other industry visionaries, see the latest in innovative technologies and more.
Following the symposium, the initiative will expand pilot programs through targeted industry partnerships and technical enhancements, with a global showcase planned during the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in October 2025.
