Despite the remnants of the global pandemic and emergent challenges like inflation, labor and extreme climate events, International Fresh Produce Association CEO Cathy Burns urged Global Produce & Floral Show guests to capitalize on the momentum around fresh produce and floral.
Key takeaways from this first State of the Industry session IFPA delivered include:
Here comes the Metaverse. This emerging digital world is where consumers will go to socialize, play games and buy.
IFPA role: The association’s global insights and analytics keep a pulse on emerging trends like the Metaverse and more to guide its members.
Food as medicine. From medically tailored meals to precision nutrition to produce prescriptions, fresh fruits and vegetables are poised to lead meaningful changes in global consumer health.
IFPA role: Fruit and vegetable moonshot found six of eight proposals in a new national nutrition strategy. Now the work begins in continued advocacy for strong policy to bring the strategy to life.
Innovation in Sustainability and Technology. Opportunities abound through innovation in sustainability and technology to tackle big issues like climate to energy production to food loss/waste.
IFPA role: IFPA is launching a Fresh Produce Research Center with sustainability as its first initiative to connect academia with industry and lean into IFPA’s advocacy strengths to ensure agencies prioritize investment in fresh produce research.
Inflation and Consumer Concerns. Food prices continue to rise, and consumers are stretching every dollar, rand, real, peso, pound, yen and euro.
IFPA role: Soon-to-launch syndicated IFPA research on the economy, plus the popular Produce MarketWatch and Floral MarketWatch reports provide analysis and insight.
Help Wanted. Everywhere. Talent retention remains a challenge as “quiet quitting” has supplanted “The Great Resignation." Burns suggested companies consider applying the disciple and rigor they use when measuring consumer engagement to their employees to create a “passion index.”
IFPA role: IFPA DEI initiatives, compensation study and Online Learning Academy provide opportunities for employers to ensure they are competitive with pay, as well as providing a platform for professional development.
Burns closed the session with a call to action around changing the trajectory of human health. “Only one in 10 Americans consumes the recommended number of fruits and vegetables a day. Meanwhile, we are spending a trillion dollars of our national debt each year treating diet-driven diseases,” she noted.
IFPA global research found that, across the markets of Brazil, China, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S., more than 75 percent of consumers feel they are eating enough produce. Yet, when asked how many fruits and vegetables they eat daily, the amount – 3.4 servings – falls below World Health Organization’s recommendation.
“It is our duty to champion the data, insights and messages that create lasting change in consumption so the world knows fresh produce is the secret to vitality and vibrancy,” said Burns.
For more information:
Siobhan May
IFPA
Tel: +1 (302) 781-5855
SMay@freshproduce.com
www.freshproduce.com