Jul 3, 2023

Washington IFPA advocacy conference registration opens up

Registration for the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Washington advocacy conference has started.

Hundreds of leaders from every segment of the produce and floral industry are expected to convene at the nation’s capitol to advocate for key public policy issues at IFPA’s 2023 Washington Conference.

The conference is scheduled for Sept. 12-15 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington.

“With our impact on the economy and the health and well-being of consumers, IFPA members must take this chance to meet with elected leaders to promote the influence and growth of the fresh produce and floral sector.,” Robert Guenther, IFPA’s chief public policy officer, said in the release. “The Washington conference is the only event that brings the full produce supply chain to D.C. to directly influence the prosperity of their businesses and our industry.”

IFPA is adding several new elements to this year’s conference, including:

• The International Trade Forum where industry executives and government leaders will gather to discuss the impact of trade opportunities and agreement negotiations, as well as disputes and potential solutions to better serve consumers and producers globally.
• The Women’s Fresh Perspectives Reception enables attendees to connect, learn, and cultivate relationships with other women in advocacy. Meet industry advocates and agricultural advocacy influencers that demand change and action on Capitol Hill. Share experiences and celebrate successes while forming valuable connections that can profoundly impact your advocacy journey
• The Conference’s First-Time Attendee Advocacy Champion Mentor Program helps attendees foster valuable relationships and learn from seasoned advocates on how to be successful on Capitol Hill.
• The Celebrate Fresh Party, the capstone event, unites and highlights members’ engagement and commitment to the industry following the March on Capitol Hill.

For more than 25 years, The Washington conference has convened industry leaders to meet with members of Congress and cabinet officials throughout the administration to advocate on issues including food safety, ensuring a legal and reliable workforce, Farm Bill, nutrition policy, and more.

Keynote speakers at last year’s conference included U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Senator John Boozman, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Speaker of The House Kevin McCarthy, Elaine Trevino, Senior Supply Chain Advisor to the Biden-Harris Administration Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, Justin Cook, Consumer Products Research Leader, Deloitte Services, Susan Mayne, Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the Food and Drug Administration, Frank Yiannas, former deputy commissioner of FDA’s Food Policy and Response, and Rod Snyder, senior advisor for agriculture for EPA’s Office of the Administrator.