March 20, 2025 Washington, DC – The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) BB #:378962 has released its White Paper, “Supply Chain of the Future: From Vision to Action,” providing a roadmap for unprecedented pre-commercial collaboration to tackle systemic challenges in the fresh produce supply chain.
Recognizing that “data doesn’t move food, collaboration does,” as stated by Steve Alaerts, Chair of the IFPA Supply Chain Council, IFPA is fostering an environment of open dialogue and shared problem-solving, detailed in the newly released White Paper.
The White Paper, “Supply Chain of the Future: From Vision to Action,” outlines how the initiative is breaking down barriers and building trust through collaborative efforts focused on:
- Harmonized Standards: Aligning industry standards to create a common framework for data exchange and streamline operations across the supply chain.
- Smart Data Escrow: Establishing secure mechanisms for controlled data sharing, enabling stakeholders to share critical information without compromising business confidentiality.
- Shelf-life Predictability: Collaboratively developing and implementing real-time monitoring and predictive analytics to reduce waste and improve product quality.
- Dynamic Incentives: Shifting away from traditional pricing models through industry-wide collaboration to create value-based systems that reward all stakeholders fairly.
IFPA has convened industry leaders in a series of global “Collabathons,” bringing together diverse perspectives to map out challenges and co-create solutions. These sessions, and their outcomes, are detailed in the White Paper and underscore the need for:
- Greater transparency and trust across the supply chain. As Martha King, a key contributor to the initiative, observed, “We talk about how we want our consumers to trust us…but yet when we talk about the data, it’s as if we have a lack of trust within the supply chain.”
- Enhanced communication and data sharing to address inefficiencies that lead to food waste and lost value.
- A shift towards a more equitable system where all stakeholders, from growers to retailers, benefit from improved collaboration. As South African grape producer Fanie Naudé emphasized, there is a need for “reciprocal transparency,” pointing out that growers often bear the financial burden of disruptions within the value chain.
The White Paper outlines the initiative’s roadmap for collaborative action, including:
- Spring 2025: Establishing working groups and steering committees to drive consensus and develop shared solutions.
- Summer 2025: Executing pilot programs and validating collaborative solutions, with a key Symposium & Program Pilot Series on June 9th, 2025, in Washington, D.C., at IFPA’s Washington Conference.
- Fall 2025: Showcasing successful collaborations and setting the stage for industry-wide adoption at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show.
IFPA invites all stakeholders in the fresh produce industry to download the White Paper and join this collaborative movement.
Take Action:
- Join a Working Group or Steering Committee
- Sponsor the ongoing initiative
- Save the Date for the Symposium & Program Pilot Series on June 9th, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Click here to download the White Paper and learn more.
About the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our members’ prosperity by conducting advocacy, connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to take action with purpose and confidence. IFPA represents member companies from small family businesses to the largest international corporations throughout the global fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.
Contact: Ashley Sempowski, asempowski@freshproduce.com, (202) 303-3406
