The International Fresh Produce Association has laid out plans to educate lawmakers this year on the challenges facing the fresh produce and floral industries, such as perishability and seasonal access.
The group has taken positions on nine topics: trade, nutrition and consumption, crop protection and production technology, food safety, supply chain resiliency transportation, infrastructure, sustainability, taxes and the farm bill.
IFPA said produce will be uniquely affected by tariffs due to the year-round demand of specialty crops and limited seasonal availability.
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The group also called for expanding producer access to H-2A workers, asking for the removal of the adverse effect wage rate and overturning the Department of Labor’s Farmworker Protection Rule.
The association called for research investments in crop protection alternatives, such as biological controls and integrated pest management strategies.
The IFPA trade agenda specifically mentioned advocating for innovation on single-use plastic packaging and streamlining regulations for other parts of the supply chain, such as trucking and ports.
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