[Washington, D.C., December 18, 2025] — The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), the trade association that advocates for the fresh produce supply chain, has become the latest trade association to join the U.S. Food Waste Pact (Pact), a joint initiative led by ReFED and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to reduce food waste across the food system. IFPA joins 28 other food businesses and organizations signing onto the Pact’s voluntary agreement, which utilizes the “Target, Measure, Act” framework to facilitate industry collaboration and action to reduce food waste across the food system.
According to ReFED, 29% of food produced in the United States goes uneaten or unsold, with the vast majority becoming waste that gets sent to destinations like landfills, incinerators, and sewer systems. Produce is the food type that is most wasted, at more than 32 million tons each year. That’s equivalent to over 52 billion meals and valued at almost $70 billion—giving produce businesses a huge opportunity to help their bottom lines and make sure more product ends up on people’s plates.
“Reducing food waste is one of the many issues we’re addressing in both our sustainability and supply chain member communities," said Tamara Muruetagoiena, vice president of sustainability at IFPA. “Joining the U.S. Food Waste Pact and collaborating with the other Pact signatories will ensure the voice of fresh produce is heard as we work together to address this critical issue.”
In addition to food waste reduction, among the other sustainability priorities IFPA has undertaken is the development of a global sustainability framework (for which food loss and waste is a focus) in collaboration with The Consumer Goods Forum. The organization is also connected to the United Nations’ sustainability efforts, having earned status in both the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the U.N. Environment Programme. IFPA’s Food Loss & Waste Working Group (consisting of volunteer leaders and members) is focused on connecting sustainability leaders implementing and innovating food loss and waste solutions while guiding the development of industry-specific resources that address the challenges and opportunities related to food loss and waste.
“It’s exciting to have IFPA join the U.S. Food Waste Pact,” said Jackie Suggitt, vice president of business initiatives & community engagement at ReFED. “They’re unique in representing a food category across multiple sectors, and produce is the most wasted category across the supply chain. Their voice is a welcome addition to Pact signatories’ precompetitive conversations, and we’re excited to see how their participation will maximize food waste reduction efforts.”
IFPA is the twenty-ninth business to join the U.S. Food Waste Pact. Other signatories are retailers Albertsons Companies, Ahold Delhaize USA, ALDI US, Amazon Fresh, Kroger, New Seasons Market, Raley’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, Walmart Inc., and Whole Foods Market; manufacturers Bob’s Red Mill, Del Monte Fresh Produce Company, and Lamb Weston, Inc.; coalition signatories Health Care Without Harm and R&DE Stanford Food Institute; trade associations FMI—The Food Industry Association and Western Growers Association; foodservice signatories Aramark, Compass Group USA, ISS Guckenheimer, and Sodexo USA; quick-service restaurants CAVA, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and Wawa; hospitality signatory Hilton; and distributors Organically Grown Company and Midwest Foods.
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About the U.S. Food Waste Pact
The U.S. Food Waste Pact is a national voluntary agreement that uses the “Target, Measure, Act” framework to reduce food waste across the supply chain. The Pact works with waste-generating food businesses and organizations to collect and analyze data about food waste in their operations, share best practices through precompetitive working groups, and test and scale solutions through intervention projects. The Pact is an initiative led by nonprofits ReFED and the World Wildlife Fund. For more information about the U.S. Food Waste Pact, visit http://usfoodwastepact.org/.
About IFPA
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our members’ prosperity by conducting advocacy, connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to take action with purpose and confidence. IFPA represents member companies from small family businesses to the largest international corporations throughout the global fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.
Media Contacts:
Nia D’Emilio, ReFED
Susan McCarthy, WWF