IFPA and United announce intent to join forces
IFPA and United announce intent to join forces
WASHINGTON -- The leadership of the International Fresh-cut Produce Association and the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association announced April 19 their intent to combine forces to deliver the highest possible level of value to members and meet today's critical challenges facing the fresh produce industry.
"This is a merger of two strong, independent and respected associations and a major step forward for both IFPA and United members and the entire produce industry," IFPA Chairman Mark Miller of Fresh From Texas in San Antonio, TX, said in a statement. "With our combined board leadership and staff expertise in public policy, food safety, marketing, nutrition and health, education, leadership development, media communications and supply chain issues from field to fork, we will serve our members with greater resources, greater expertise and greater efficiency than ever before."
"Our combined organization will not only offer greater member value and expertise, we will reflect the strength and heritage that each association brings forward today," United Chairman Nick Tompkins of Apio Inc. in Guadalupe, CA, added. "IFPA has been an essential force since 1988 in helping grow the fresh-cut, value-added produce industry to the mainstream business that it is today. United recently celebrated our 100th anniversary of service to the industry. To mark the importance of today's new partnership, upon completion of this merger we will launch together an even stronger brand 'United' than ever -- to be called the United Fresh Produce Association -- signifying this new partnership between members of our two associations and reaching out to all other companies in the produce supply chain to join us in this essential mission to promote our industry."
The merger of IFPA and United will provide unparalleled leadership to its members and the produce industry in five key areas:
--- Leadership in government relations, issues management and media advocacy. IFPA and United are the only broad-based produce associations based in Washington, with board and council leadership and strong professional staff in all aspects of public policy, government affairs and media relations. The combined group will deliver unmatched value in shaping legislative, regulatory, political and legal solutions to challenges threatening the industry's growth and profitability, while providing the strongest possible voice for the produce industry before the news media.
--- Leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health. The new organization will capitalize on IFPA's strong record in fresh-cut safety and quality assurance, with United's long commitment to food safety regulatory affairs and government relations. IFPA and United are the only produce associations to each have member-led food safety and technical committees, whose efforts will now be combined for maximum synergy. The new staff team will feature unmatched depth of scientific expertise with Dr. Jim Gorny, Dr. Dave Gombas and Dr. Ashley Bell leading food safety efforts, and Dr. Lorelei DiSogra directing nutrition and health programs.
--- Focus on innovation and business growth through increased produce sales and profitability. IFPA and United will offer the industry unique value in two targeted trade shows that meet the needs of specific sectors of the produce business. IFPA's Fresh-Cut Expo will continue to be held annually and expand to focus on the equipment, tools and technology needed to drive innovation in seed development, agricultural production, post-harvest handling, packing and packaging, warehousing and distribution, and other technical solutions. The United Produce Show at FMI will continue to grow its focus on marketing and merchandising innovations for produce sales growth through retail, foodservice and other channels.
--- Local and global services to meet members' needs. In recognition of the global nature of the produce business, yet critical needs facing smaller companies at the local level, the combined organization will be both globally and locally focused to address the unique business needs of its members around the world. IFPA's recent outreach to provide value and services to companies in Europe will continue.
--- Streamlined services and improved return on membership investment. The new organization will drive a level of cost-effectiveness and efficiency for member companies not available in separate organizations. By combining forces, management will drive overhead costs lower, maximize staff synergy and expertise, and dramatically improve member company time efficiency. It is estimated that reduction in office overhead alone will generate more than $100,000 in savings that can be reinvested in member value.
Discussions to develop a strategic alliance between IFPA and United began in September 2005 and focused on the possibility of combining resources, expertise and industry leadership to better serve the two organizations' respective memberships. On March 30, the executive officers of IFPA and United met to review a possible business plan for this strategic alliance and voted to recommend a full merger of the two associations to their own boards.
In subsequent independent meetings April 12 and April 14, respectively, the IFPA and United boards of directors voted unanimously to proceed and seek membership endorsement of the merger.
An electronic ballot seeking endorsement of each board's action is being sent to the voting members of each association April 19, with results of that vote to be reported May 6 at the United Produce Show at FMI. If approved, the boards of IFPA and United have authorized their respective officers and executive staff to complete the legal requirements necessary to execute the merger as soon as possible.
"This is a merger of two strong, independent and respected associations and a major step forward for both IFPA and United members and the entire produce industry," IFPA Chairman Mark Miller of Fresh From Texas in San Antonio, TX, said in a statement. "With our combined board leadership and staff expertise in public policy, food safety, marketing, nutrition and health, education, leadership development, media communications and supply chain issues from field to fork, we will serve our members with greater resources, greater expertise and greater efficiency than ever before."
"Our combined organization will not only offer greater member value and expertise, we will reflect the strength and heritage that each association brings forward today," United Chairman Nick Tompkins of Apio Inc. in Guadalupe, CA, added. "IFPA has been an essential force since 1988 in helping grow the fresh-cut, value-added produce industry to the mainstream business that it is today. United recently celebrated our 100th anniversary of service to the industry. To mark the importance of today's new partnership, upon completion of this merger we will launch together an even stronger brand 'United' than ever -- to be called the United Fresh Produce Association -- signifying this new partnership between members of our two associations and reaching out to all other companies in the produce supply chain to join us in this essential mission to promote our industry."
The merger of IFPA and United will provide unparalleled leadership to its members and the produce industry in five key areas:
--- Leadership in government relations, issues management and media advocacy. IFPA and United are the only broad-based produce associations based in Washington, with board and council leadership and strong professional staff in all aspects of public policy, government affairs and media relations. The combined group will deliver unmatched value in shaping legislative, regulatory, political and legal solutions to challenges threatening the industry's growth and profitability, while providing the strongest possible voice for the produce industry before the news media.
--- Leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health. The new organization will capitalize on IFPA's strong record in fresh-cut safety and quality assurance, with United's long commitment to food safety regulatory affairs and government relations. IFPA and United are the only produce associations to each have member-led food safety and technical committees, whose efforts will now be combined for maximum synergy. The new staff team will feature unmatched depth of scientific expertise with Dr. Jim Gorny, Dr. Dave Gombas and Dr. Ashley Bell leading food safety efforts, and Dr. Lorelei DiSogra directing nutrition and health programs.
--- Focus on innovation and business growth through increased produce sales and profitability. IFPA and United will offer the industry unique value in two targeted trade shows that meet the needs of specific sectors of the produce business. IFPA's Fresh-Cut Expo will continue to be held annually and expand to focus on the equipment, tools and technology needed to drive innovation in seed development, agricultural production, post-harvest handling, packing and packaging, warehousing and distribution, and other technical solutions. The United Produce Show at FMI will continue to grow its focus on marketing and merchandising innovations for produce sales growth through retail, foodservice and other channels.
--- Local and global services to meet members' needs. In recognition of the global nature of the produce business, yet critical needs facing smaller companies at the local level, the combined organization will be both globally and locally focused to address the unique business needs of its members around the world. IFPA's recent outreach to provide value and services to companies in Europe will continue.
--- Streamlined services and improved return on membership investment. The new organization will drive a level of cost-effectiveness and efficiency for member companies not available in separate organizations. By combining forces, management will drive overhead costs lower, maximize staff synergy and expertise, and dramatically improve member company time efficiency. It is estimated that reduction in office overhead alone will generate more than $100,000 in savings that can be reinvested in member value.
Discussions to develop a strategic alliance between IFPA and United began in September 2005 and focused on the possibility of combining resources, expertise and industry leadership to better serve the two organizations' respective memberships. On March 30, the executive officers of IFPA and United met to review a possible business plan for this strategic alliance and voted to recommend a full merger of the two associations to their own boards.
In subsequent independent meetings April 12 and April 14, respectively, the IFPA and United boards of directors voted unanimously to proceed and seek membership endorsement of the merger.
An electronic ballot seeking endorsement of each board's action is being sent to the voting members of each association April 19, with results of that vote to be reported May 6 at the United Produce Show at FMI. If approved, the boards of IFPA and United have authorized their respective officers and executive staff to complete the legal requirements necessary to execute the merger as soon as possible.
