The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is reorganizing its organizational structure to enhance and amplify its produce safety and food safety regulatory goals.

Under the new structure, IFPA’s Regulatory and Compliance Expert, Paul Lewis, Ph.D. will join the Government Relations Team and report to Chief Global Policy Officer, Alexis Taylor, who drives the association’s global public policy agenda.

“This alignment allows us to more meaningfully commit government advocacy resources to food safety on the industry’s behalf in Washington D.C. and in priority global regions,” Said Ms. Taylor. “There are growing pressures on how, where, how much, and when we grow and deliver fruits and vegetables across the world. This reorganization will help us to discover and advocate for the most powerful solutions and strategies.”

Additionally, members of the Food Safety team including Angela Fraser, Ph.D., Vice President of Food Safety and Quality; Dr. Jorge Quintanilla, Ph.D., Food Safety Manager; and Alison Saltzmann, Food Safety Support Coordinator, will join the Science and Technology (SciTech) team under Max Teplitski, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer. Dr. Teplitski oversees supply chain, packaging, sustainability, innovation and data portfolios.

“Food safety is foundational to our industry’s success,” said Teplitski. “Aligning our experts across our Advocacy and Science teams will help us deliver on the strategic imperatives to future-proof our industry, garner worldwide influence, and create more valuable and personalized touchpoints and resources for our members. Food safety is a shared responsibility across every role and every step of the supply chain; and it’s a central part to all of the work the SciTech team does including the ongoing work in packaging, Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204(d) (FSMA 204) readiness, regenerative ag, and the Supply Chain of the Future initiative.”

In addition to food safety, the SciTech team also includes portfolios for the supply chain, agricultural technology, sustainability, and the global intelligence team, which delivers on IFPA’s proprietary research and analysis. The SciTech team also serves as critical advisors to the Government Relations team at IFPA.