The International Fresh Produce Association has added Mica Hider as its political affairs and action director.
Hider fills a critical role for the association by leading political advocacy and action among elected officials, the IFPA and its members, according to a news release.
“We hear from our members that one of the most important things we can do as an association is to build our influence to advocate and act on behalf of the industry in a way where individuals and companies cannot,” IFPA Vice President of U.S. Government Relations Rebeckah Adcock said in the release. “Mica will bring immediate energy to these efforts, focusing on strengthening our political standing, expanding opportunities for members to be engaged in political activity, and increasing resources in FreshPAC. She brings years of experience building associations’ political capital, and I am thrilled that she is bringing her talent to the fresh produce and floral industry.”
Hider will be responsible for leading the planning and management of IFPA’s political activity in Washington, D.C., and will manage FreshPAC, IFPA’s political action committee. FreshPAC is the fresh produce and floral industry’s main source of giving and connection with political campaigns of those federal candidates who influence and prioritize fresh produce, floral and specialty crops, the release said.
“I am excited to join the International Fresh Produce Association and help boost our political influence in the industry,” Hider said in the release. “I look forward to working with our members and leaders to strengthen our political influence and build upon IFPA’s success in expanding our political engagement through FreshPAC, ensuring that the voices of our industry are heard and valued in Washington and beyond.”
Hider was most recently at the American Chemistry Council where she served as the senior director of coalitions and PAC for the trade association representing the business of chemistry at global, federal and state levels.
She currently serves on the board of directors for BIPAC and GlobalWIN. Her background also includes PAC management, fundraising and political activity leadership at the National Associations of Realtors, the Credit Union National Association, and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the release said. Hider earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and is also a graduate of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University.
