WASHINGTON, DC - For the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), policy and regulatory advocacy on behalf of the produce industry remain top priorities. In order to enhance its government relations practices, the association appointed Rebeckah Freeman Adcock as its new Vice President of United States Government Relations, expanded the role of Mollie Van Lieu to Vice President of Nutrition and Health, and added Brandon Barnett as Government Relations Coordinator.

Freeman Adcock will join the association’s diverse team led by IFPA Chief Policy Officer Robert L. Guenther, whose staff focuses on issues including nutrition and health, labor and immigration, supply chain and environment, and political affairs and grassroots, a press release stated.

Before joining IFPA, Freeman Adcock was the former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Administrator for Rural Development, Senior Advisor to USDA Secretary/ Regulatory Officer, Senior Government Affairs Director for Crop Life America, and Lead Counsel to the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

“Rebeckah brings an incredible knowledge base on topics such as environmental law, water, and crop protection tools, all of which our members have said are critically important to their businesses,” said IFPA U.S. Government Relations Chair Brian Kocher, President and Chief Executive Officer at Calavo Growers. “Those IFPA members coming to Washington for our Policy and Regulatory Forum next month will have an opportunity to meet Rebeckah and the full government relations team as we take our industry’s most important priorities to Capitol Hill.”

IFPA also announced two additional leadership appointments.

In addition to Freeman Adcock, IFPA has brought Barnett on board as Government Relations Coordinator. He has several years of experience on Capitol Hill as well as at agriculture-based consulting groups. In 2016, he was recognized as a University Scholar, one of 50 awarded a grant to research volatile organic compounds in blueberries.

Mollie Van Lieu has also been named to the position of Vice President of Nutrition and Health.

IFPA has also expanded the role of Van Lieu to Vice President of Nutrition and Health, a position in which she will drive the organization’s nutrition and health portfolio as it looks to extend its efforts to increase fresh produce consumption globally.

IFPA Chief Executive Officer Cathy Burns also commented on the recent appointments.

“We have doubled our investment in government advocacy and leadership. Our members are counting on us to build and maintain a positive business climate in the U.S. as well as global engagement to promote free and fair trade and standards harmonization. It is required to promote worldwide growth in consumption,” said Burns. “This added talent and experience will complement our existing staff capabilities to ensure we deliver member value on these commitments to grow our members’ prosperity.”

Each of these new leaders are set to strengthen IFPA's leadership teams moving forward.

To read more about what IFPA is doing to bolster its government relations practices, click here.

Congratulations to all three leaders on these new roles!

International Fresh Produce Association