Industry celebrates Tom Stenzel, raises over $100K to benefit IFPA’s Foundation for Fresh Produce

Following International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Washington Conference, Sept. 28, more than 150 industry and association leaders convened for a dinner at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. to celebrate Tom Stenzel’s three decades of service to the fresh produce industry, according to a release.

In attendance to honor the former United Fresh Produce Association president and CEO and IFPA co-CEO were Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16), former United Fresh Board members and member leaders, legacy United Fresh staff, and fellow agriculture and food association colleagues.

IFPA CEO Cathy Burns began the program by reflecting on her close relationship working alongside Stenzel for the past 15 years. In her remarks, Burns praised Stenzel for his steadfast commitment to advance the produce industry, while highlighting just a few of his many accomplishments throughout his three-decade career.

“Our industry needs more dedicated leaders like Tom, a fearless leader who truly cares not just about the industry, but more so, the people in it,” said Burns. “His tireless dedication over the decades is legendary and we are all better for it.”

In March 2021, Stenzel and Burns achieved a longtime goal for the fresh produce industry by helping launch the International Fresh Produce Association, a new association formed by the combination of United Fresh and the Produce Marketing Association.

Additional industry icons paid tribute to Stenzel’s unique and storied career, including former chairs of the United Fresh Board Alan Siger, the first chair with whom Stenzel worked at United Fresh; Reggie Griffin; and Brian Kocher, current chair of IFPA’s U.S. Government Relations Council. Past United Fresh Executive Vice President Victoria Backer and past United Fresh board member Will Steele also addressed Stenzel and guests.

Over $100,000 in individual donations and proceeds from the dinner will be contributed to IFPA’s The Foundation for Fresh Produce.

Highlights of Stenzel’s produce industry leadership

Stenzel joined the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association as president and CEO in August 1993. Two years later, he led United and a coalition of industry groups to amend and modernize the Perishable Agriculture Commodities Act (PACA) in 1995.

That same year, Stenzel led United to create The Washington Public Policy Conference, which continues today as the leading opportunity for the fresh produce industry to engage with policy makers. Additionally, with support from DuPont (now Corteva), Stenzel and the United staff launched the Produce Industry Leadership Program. More than 250 industry leaders have graduated from the program which is still active under IFPA.

In 2006, under Stenzel’s leadership, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association and International Fresh-Cut Produce Association merged to form United Fresh Produce Association.

In 2008, Stenzel united various specialty crop associations to ensure the Farm Bill benefited both the produce industry and the public, by increasing access to fresh produce as well as supporting research to help the industry

In 2011, he was named the president of the International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS), an organization of produce trade associations focused on improving the supply chain efficiency of the fresh produce industry through developing, implementing, and managing harmonized international standards. That same year, he was appointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, comprised of leaders of trade associations in various industries that represent the interests of association members before the U.S. Chamber’s board of directors.

In July 2015, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman appointed Stenzel to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) that advises the Secretary of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative on the administration of trade policy.

In 2016, United Fresh and PMA assembled an industry workgroup to develop an ethical charter (released in 2018) to promote responsible labor standards across the produce and floral industries. This was a major effort between United Fresh and PMA, and it laid the groundwork for a close working relationship between Stenzel and Burns and their associations, culminating in the coming together of PMA and United Fresh to form IFPA in 2022, according to a release.

In April 2022, Stenzel launched The Stenzel Group, a consulting firm supporting the fresh produce industry in strategic management, government relations, customer development and adoption of new technologies.