WASHINGTON, DC & NEWARK, DE - Two are becoming one as the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Foundation for Fresh Produce and the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) have announced a merger. Together, the organizations will work to advance fruit and vegetable consumption in the United States and form a large global community of advocates for produce.

“The produce industry has the potential to provide solutions to many of the greatest challenges we face, especially those around nutrition and hunger,” said Bruce Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Farms and Chair of the IFPA Board of Directors. “Combining the efforts and assets of these two organizations will continue to bolster our efforts to help the world see the importance of investing in health over healthcare, by driving consumption of fruits and vegetables and tapping into the power of our industry to help change the trajectory of human health.”

IFPA’s Foundation for Fresh Produce is focused on highlighting the importance of fruits and vegetables in people’s diets; supporting the development, infrastructure, and supply chain solutions that increase access to produce; and establishing strategic alliances on the global, national, and local levels to encourage healthier eating habits.

According to a release, PBH will bring its decades of experience to the organization. Since its inception, the non-profit has inspired daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, and in 2019, launched its award-winning Have A Plant® Movement, inspiring millions of Americans with a digital ecosystem and innovative ways to up consumption.

“This merger will immediately deliver even greater impact and value to the collective fruit and vegetable industry by providing a research-based, consumer-focused platform that can ignite consumption behavior change as well as elevate fruit and vegetable consumption as a national and global health priority, improving public health and accelerating industry growth,” said Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, and President and Chief Executive Officer of PBH, in a statement.

The merger between these two entities will take place beginning on January 1, 2023. In the lead-up, the organizations will work through a transition period to further align and provide a smooth transition without disruption. PBH recently announced that it will hold its Retail & Foodservice Immersion Event in conjunction with IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando from October 26–29. The Foundation for Fresh Produce will also host The Race for a Healthier World 5k at the same event.

“Bringing these two 501(c)(3)s together not only allows us to further scale proven initiatives to pursue our shared mission, but it also allows us to achieve a unified and powerful voice,” said CarrieAnn Arias, Vice President of Marketing at Naturipe Farms, and Chair of the PBH Board of Trustees. “Today, where public health is at the center of some of our greatest challenges, the advocacy needed to improve nutrition security requires resources and strategic partnerships. Bringing these organizations together is the ultimate collaboration and will position our industry to take on a significant role in increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.”

Together, Foundation for Fresh Produce and PBH will deliver greater impact and value to produce industry members by offering streamlined, cohesive investment opportunities; providing a research-based, consumer-focused platform that can influence consumption behavior change; and serving the public good by elevating fruit and vegetable consumption as a global health priority.

“With so much misinformation, the opportunity to communicate the benefits of fruits and vegetables is paramount,” said Martha Hilton, Vice President of Produce and Floral at Wegmans, and Chair of the Foundation for Fresh Produce. “Combining our two organizations allows us to leverage the PBH recognized and trusted consumer channels and scale some Foundation for Fresh Produce initiatives. Under the Foundation for Fresh Produce, we will be able to galvanize our efforts around the mission of driving consumption to alleviate the many public health and personal wellness challenges that stem from nutrition insecurity.”

For more information on this merger, click here.

As these two organizations come together to inspire change, ANUK will report their next moves.

Produce for Better Health Foundation International Fresh Produce Association