What is the single most urgent shift the produce industry must make today to ensure it remains sustainable and profitable in 2030 and beyond?
“The most urgent shift is recognizing that our future depends as much on connection as it does production. To remain sustainable and profitable, we have to break down silos, listen more closely and work together across the supply chain to communicate the value of fresh produce, solve shared challenges and build stronger connections with the people and communities we serve.”
Ashley Sempowski, manager of communications and media relations at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), joined the fresh produce and floral industry in 2022 after spending much of her career in higher education and enrollment management.
She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education, with her research focused on relationship-centered, people-centric approaches to engagement and persistence. While the industries may seem so different, the heart of her work has remained the same: understanding people, building meaningful relationships and communicating in ways that create real connection and inspire action.
At IFPA, Sempowski brings that approach to engaging with members, working with media and telling the stories of an industry that touches lives every day. She has quickly fallen in love with the produce and floral community, inspired by the passion of its people and a shared mission to improve health and well-being through the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
