United and IFPA to join forces, giving members a greater voice
United and IFPA to join forces, giving members a greater voice
WASHINGTON -- The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association and the International Fresh-cut Produce Association announced April 19 that they will pool their resources and merge thir organizations to become the United Fresh Produce Association by the end of the year.
The new marriage reflects a consolidating industry, stepped up food-safety pressures and the ever-increasing blurred line between processing and other sectors of the supply chain.
"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 said in a statement.
United Chairman Nick Tompkins of Apio Inc. said that the merger would allow the new association to reach out to all other companies in the produce supply chain to join the essential mission of promoting the produce industry.
Last September, top officials from both groups sat down at United's Washington Public Policy meeting to discuss a strategic alliance that would pool valuable resources and ever-increasing demands on members and association staff who are committed to responding to key industry issues, such as food safety.
In February, United President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel and IFPA President Jerry Welcome talked again on a long plane ride home from a European meeting, where it became clear they wouldn't save enough resources by simply coordinating efforts. The answer, it appeared, was to evolve by merging operations, resources and expertise in order to best represent members across the supply chain from seed to retail.
On March 30, the top leaders of IFPA and United voted to recommend the merger to their own boards, and earlier this month both boards of directors voted unanimously to seek membership approval of the new organization. The results of that vote will be announced May 6 at the United Produce Show.
The groups both share a commitment to pressing issues such as food safety and increasing America's consumption of fruits and vegetables, said Mr. Stenzel. With the Food & Drug Administration's produce action plan and the increased scrutiny of the lettuce industry, there is huge pressure on the industry to make sure the products are as safe as they can be for consumers, he said.
Both groups employ full-time food safety experts -- IFPA's David Gombas and United's Jim Gorny -- but they weren't "capturing the synergy because they were doing the same thing and reporting back to the same committees," said Mr. Stenzel.
The merger of the organizations will provide leadership in food safety and health, government relations, business innovation and an improved return on membership investment. The combined group will provide a stronger voice to the news media, continue two targeted trade shows that service different segments of the industry, and encourage IFPA's outreach to companies in Europe, said the groups.
Under the new structure, IFPA's Fresh-Cut Expo, which is taking place later this month, would continue to promote equipment 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 would continue its focus on marketing and merchandising innovations for produce sales growth through retail, foodservice and other channels.
With IFPA's lease up at its Alexandria, VA, office, the timing seemed right, said Mr. Welcome, who will be moving operations to United's more spacious Washington, DC, office. The press statement issued by the two groups said that reducing office overhead would generate more than $100,000 is savings that can be reinvested in member value.
The groups entertained the idea of combining forces years ago, but the timing was not right. "IFPA was incredibly ahead of the game in recognizing the potential of fresh-cut processing," said Mr. Stenzel, who added that it was a young industry and the organization helped bring the role of processing to the mainstream. At the time, processors and grower-shippers occupied different segments of the industry. Now it is uncommon to find companies that just cut fruits and vegetables, as the industry continues to become more efficient, undergo consolidation and blur the lines of what is considered processing.
The organizations plan to blend staff as they both agreed to find positions for everyone. Mr. Stenzel said that both staffs have been asked to come up with a plan that will "build the most synergy" and best serve the membership. Once the vote from the membership is final, the newly minted organization plans to hold its first meeting at United's Washington Public Policy conference in September.
The new organization is likely to change the dynamics of the produce industry. News of the merger reached the Produce Marketing Association, which issued a statement from PMA Chairman Janet Erickson of Del Taco Inc. and PMA President Bryan Silbermann.
"Regarding the announcement of the merger between IFPA and UFFVA, we have every confidence that the volunteer leaders of both associations made the right decision for their members. We wish them well and plan to continue to work closely with the United Fresh Produce Association.
"We will continue to expand the value we provide PMA members in the areas of education, marketing information, technology and standards, government relations, food safety, and premier networking events such as Fresh Summit, the foodservice conference and others," said the PMA statement.
The new marriage reflects a consolidating industry, stepped up food-safety pressures and the ever-increasing blurred line between processing and other sectors of the supply chain.
"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 said in a statement.
United Chairman Nick Tompkins of Apio Inc. said that the merger would allow the new association to reach out to all other companies in the produce supply chain to join the essential mission of promoting the produce industry.
Last September, top officials from both groups sat down at United's Washington Public Policy meeting to discuss a strategic alliance that would pool valuable resources and ever-increasing demands on members and association staff who are committed to responding to key industry issues, such as food safety.
In February, United President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stenzel and IFPA President Jerry Welcome talked again on a long plane ride home from a European meeting, where it became clear they wouldn't save enough resources by simply coordinating efforts. The answer, it appeared, was to evolve by merging operations, resources and expertise in order to best represent members across the supply chain from seed to retail.
On March 30, the top leaders of IFPA and United voted to recommend the merger to their own boards, and earlier this month both boards of directors voted unanimously to seek membership approval of the new organization. The results of that vote will be announced May 6 at the United Produce Show.
The groups both share a commitment to pressing issues such as food safety and increasing America's consumption of fruits and vegetables, said Mr. Stenzel. With the Food & Drug Administration's produce action plan and the increased scrutiny of the lettuce industry, there is huge pressure on the industry to make sure the products are as safe as they can be for consumers, he said.
Both groups employ full-time food safety experts -- IFPA's David Gombas and United's Jim Gorny -- but they weren't "capturing the synergy because they were doing the same thing and reporting back to the same committees," said Mr. Stenzel.
The merger of the organizations will provide leadership in food safety and health, government relations, business innovation and an improved return on membership investment. The combined group will provide a stronger voice to the news media, continue two targeted trade shows that service different segments of the industry, and encourage IFPA's outreach to companies in Europe, said the groups.
Under the new structure, IFPA's Fresh-Cut Expo, which is taking place later this month, would continue to promote equipment 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 would continue its focus on marketing and merchandising innovations for produce sales growth through retail, foodservice and other channels.
With IFPA's lease up at its Alexandria, VA, office, the timing seemed right, said Mr. Welcome, who will be moving operations to United's more spacious Washington, DC, office. The press statement issued by the two groups said that reducing office overhead would generate more than $100,000 is savings that can be reinvested in member value.
The groups entertained the idea of combining forces years ago, but the timing was not right. "IFPA was incredibly ahead of the game in recognizing the potential of fresh-cut processing," said Mr. Stenzel, who added that it was a young industry and the organization helped bring the role of processing to the mainstream. At the time, processors and grower-shippers occupied different segments of the industry. Now it is uncommon to find companies that just cut fruits and vegetables, as the industry continues to become more efficient, undergo consolidation and blur the lines of what is considered processing.
The organizations plan to blend staff as they both agreed to find positions for everyone. Mr. Stenzel said that both staffs have been asked to come up with a plan that will "build the most synergy" and best serve the membership. Once the vote from the membership is final, the newly minted organization plans to hold its first meeting at United's Washington Public Policy conference in September.
The new organization is likely to change the dynamics of the produce industry. News of the merger reached the Produce Marketing Association, which issued a statement from PMA Chairman Janet Erickson of Del Taco Inc. and PMA President Bryan Silbermann.
"Regarding the announcement of the merger between IFPA and UFFVA, we have every confidence that the volunteer leaders of both associations made the right decision for their members. We wish them well and plan to continue to work closely with the United Fresh Produce Association.
"We will continue to expand the value we provide PMA members in the areas of education, marketing information, technology and standards, government relations, food safety, and premier networking events such as Fresh Summit, the foodservice conference and others," said the PMA statement.
