The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) launched its 2026 fresh produce policy agenda. It is a comprehensive roadmap based on six key pillars. The agenda aims to advance the industry’s priorities amid intense legislative and regulatory activity in the nation’s capital.
The roadmap targets the full fresh supply chain, from farm fields to family tables, and reflects the direct input of IFPA members across the country.
“Every one of these priorities is grounded in what our members tell us they need to grow, compete, and continue feeding families across America and around the world. This is our Fight for Fresh.”
— Cathy Burns, CEO, IFPA
Six Pillars Drive the 2026 Fresh Produce Policy Agenda
IFPA organized its fresh produce policy agenda around six critical pillars. Each addresses a distinct challenge facing growers, distributors, retailers, and floral businesses nationwide.
Workforce stability tops the list. IFPA pushes to modernize agricultural worker programs, defend existing regulatory reforms, and expand H-2A and H-2B visa access for the specialty crop sector.
Additionally, the association champions nutrition and health by working to protect and expand access to fruits and vegetables in WIC, SNAP, and school meal programs. It also advances produce prescriptions within government health systems and seeks to make fresh fruits and vegetables eligible purchases under HSAs and FSAs.
Farmers and Growers Get a Strong Voice
Producer profitability represents a core element of the 2026 fresh produce policy agenda. IFPA champions Farm Bill reauthorization, better risk management tools, and increased federal investment in biologicals, precision agriculture, and mechanization research.
Meanwhile, the trade pillar calls on policymakers to adopt science-based trade policies and secure tariff exemptions for fresh, perishable products. This approach aims to protect year-round consumer access to affordable fruits, vegetables, and floral products.
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Supply Chain and Food Safety Take Center Stage
IFPA also addresses supply chain resilience by countering unworkable packaging bans. In addition, it supports its members through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements and advancing its Supply Chain of the Future initiative.
Furthermore, the association prioritizes food safety modernization by strengthening the FDA’s Human Foods Program and sustaining the federal produce traceability rule. Also, securing adequate funding for state produce safety programs.
Members Head to Washington in June
Chief Global Policy Officer Alexis Taylor emphasized that the IFPA Washington Conference in June serves as a critical moment to put the fresh produce policy agenda into action.
“That direct engagement with lawmakers is what turns priorities into policy, and this agenda channels the momentum our members have built into sustained policy impact.”
— Alexis Taylor, Chief Global Policy Officer, IFPA
Taylor noted that members arriving in Washington bring real-world context, from labor shortages in the field to trade disruptions at the border, that gives the advocacy effort its power and credibility.
Webinar Briefing Set for April 16
IFPA will host a member webinar on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. ET. The session will highlight key legislative and regulatory issues shaping the year ahead and explain how the association’s advocacy aligns with fresh supply chain needs.
Interested members and stakeholders can register at freshproduce.com/advocacy/2026-policy-priorities-webinar. The full 2026 fresh produce policy agenda is also available at freshproduce.com.