IFPA identifies six public policy pillars for 2026

Workforce stability and protecting fruit and vegetable access are among the six public policy pillars released by the International Fresh Produce Association.

IFPA’s 2026 U.S. Public Policy Agenda, released April 1, provides a framework for advancing the fresh produce and floral industry’s priorities at a time of significant legislative and regulatory activity in Washington, according to a news release.

“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,” IFPA CEO Cathy Burns said in the release.

The six policy pillars are:

• Workforce stability: modernizing agricultural worker programs, defending regulatory reforms and improving H-2A and H-2B visa access for the specialty crop sector
• Nutrition and health: protecting and expanding fruits and vegetables access in WIC, SNAP and school meal programs, advancing produce prescriptions in government health systems, and making fruits and vegetables eligible in HSAs and FSAs
• Producer profitability: championing farm bill reauthorization, better risk management tools and increased research investment in biologicals, precision agriculture and mechanization
• Trade: advocating for science-based trade policies and tariff exemptions for fresh, perishable products to protect year-round consumer access to affordable fruits, vegetables and florals
• Supply chain resilience: countering unworkable packaging bans, supporting members through EPR requirements and advancing the Supply Chain of the Future initiative
• Food safety modernization: strengthening FDA’s Human Foods Program, sustaining the federal traceability rule and securing funding for state produce safety programs

“This policy agenda is our roadmap for the year, and the IFPA Washington Conference in June is one of the most important places where we put it into action,” said Alexis Taylor, IFPA chief global policy officer.

An April 16 IFPA webinar will brief members and stakeholders on the policy agenda. Registration for the webinar, to be held from noon until 12:45 p.m., is available online.