United Fresh and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will be merging as of Jan. 1, 2022 to form the International Fresh Produce Association, a post on the PMA website says. Both groups will operate as independent organizations throughout the end of the year.
United Fresh and PMA initially announced their intention to merge in March. The post on PMA’s website says members and staffs of both organizations have long recognized the potential value which might be achieved by combining their efforts.
“However, that requires a mutual commitment to the priorities important to both associations, and a blending of organizations that would truly result in greater value to the membership. Our current CEOs Cathy Burns and Tom Stenzel share that commitment, and both boards have endorsed an Agreement in Principle to form a new association designed to serve today’s global fresh produce and floral industries,” the post says.
The post says this new association will offer a more unified voice for the fresh produce and floral industries.
“The International Fresh Produce Association will be the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain. We will integrate world-facing advocacy with industry-facing support.”
Existing members of United Fresh and/or PMA, will receive a form in November asking them to commit to membership in the new association and outlining the dues for 2022. All memberships will run on a January-December cycle, the post notes. New members can fill out an interest form also in order to potentially join.
The new association will be ran by co-CEOs Burns and Stenzel through 2022 during the launch and then Burns will become the sole CEO. They will report to a new Board of Directors which will blend current directors from each association and new directors.
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United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association to Merge
