The IFPA Washington Conference, an annual event the organization created to unite “the fresh produce industry to address our most pressing public policy matters,” will be held this year from Sept. 26-28 in the nation’s Capitol, with produce and floral industry members gathering to “make their voices heard on key policy and regulatory issues that impact the industry, such as food safety, nutrition policy, immigration, labor, infrastructure and transportation,” according to a current IFPA post at https://www.freshproduce.com/events/the-washington-conference/ .
The post also encourages members to “demand change and action!” Registration for the event can be done on that site.
Key among reasons to take part in the conference is to “shape a better business future,” and hundreds of individuals, “industry peers and pivotal policymakers whose decisions today will directly affect the fresh fruit and vegetable industry tomorrow for the most powerful week of the year,” are expected to attend.
“Unite with the entire fresh fruit and vegetable industry in all stages of their careers — from executives to aspiring leaders and even newcomers to the global fresh produce supply chain,” the post says.
One of the major activities of the event is the March on Capitol Hill, when attendees “will engage in strategic, face to face dialogue with key members of Congress, their staff and top regulatory officials,” the post says. The March on Capitol Hill will take place Sept. 27 and 28.
The three days are packed with meetings and sessions, beginning Monday, Sept. 26, and including roundtable discussions, Produce Advocacy Bootcamp, informative forums and receptions. Topics to be covered run the gamut from crafting the correct message for Capitol Hill to “Nutrition Nation,” broadening the nation’s immigration focus, investment in the produce supply chain, the industry’s voice in the Farm Bill, organic policy and politics, produce advocacy and indoor ag and climate-smart ag.
And the Sept. 28 General Session luncheon will feature Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of “Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales.” Gonzales will tackle the current political environment, sharing “what you absolutely need to know about the races you didn’t even know were happening,” the IFPA site says. It says as well, “You’ll also learn from a luncheon-friendly election ‘autopsy’ – looking inside the latest races, projecting the outcomes, and helping you understand why all of this matters to you, just weeks before millions of Americans head to the polls on Election Day.”
