International Fresh Produce Association Spotlights CEA at Retail Conference; Vonnie Estes and Abby Prior Comment
WASHINGTON, DC - We recently received reports of a successful Retail Conference from the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). At the event, IFPA hosted a networking and engagement session with retailers and Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) producers to discuss industry growth.
“This was a unique opportunity to bring together CEA and Retailers at the Retail Conference this year,” said Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Ag Innovation at IFPA. “It’s easy to talk about the potential for CEA or rely only on the headlines around CEA startups, but bringing these two groups together allowed us to discuss the scalability of indoor-grown products that meet consumers’ and retailers’ needs for locally grown, fresh produce with fewer inputs.”
At the event, Investor and Chairman of Equilibrium Dave Chen spoke about the opportunities ahead for CEA and retailers. He provided attendees with time for roundtable discussions to learn more about challenges and possibilities at both ends of the supply chain.
Takeaways from the discussion included:
- False “Competition”: Chen stressed the importance of thinking about CEA as a set of application tools that includes everything from hoop-houses to glasshouses and vertical farms
- Chen noted that approaching the implementation of new growing solutions with the CFO mindset of balancing risk and profitability will be key to innovations that stick
- Those in the CEA space should take advantage of the incredible depth of knowledge and research by current seed-breeders
“This meeting between Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) producers and suppliers and grocery retailers is a first for the industry,” said Abby Prior, Chief Commercial Officer at BrightFarms®. “The group represents the full supply chain, collaborating to meet the growing demand for locally sourced, fresh, and environmentally conscious produce. The CEA segment is in a crucial growth stage, and the discussions aligning needs and expectations of the group is an important step forward.”
Overall, the discussion revolved around the need for transparent communication, education, simplified messaging, and a focus on product quality.
As we continue to learn more about the CEA industry, keep clicking back to ANUK.
