Fresh Field Catalyst: An IFPA Technology Accelerator

Fresh Field Catalyst, an IFPA Technology Accelerator" with a leaf and circuitry motif and the "Foundation for Fresh Produce.

Thank You to Our Partners

Join the Fresh Field Catalyst Program

Feed the Future with Reusable Packaging Solutions

The Fresh Field Catalyst Program is your chance to lead the way in creating sustainable packaging solutions for the global fresh produce industry.

This groundbreaking initiative is brought to you by the Foundation for Fresh Produce (FFP), International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), Clemson University, Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), and the USDA.

Who Should Apply?

We’re calling on any startups, established companies, and inventors to revolutionize packaging for fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

We’re seeking innovative thinkers with packaging solutions that replace single-use packaging, including single-use plastics, economically and sustainably.

Why Participate?

1. NEW! Exclusive Funding Opportunities
New this year, gain access to non-dilutive funding, with awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, provided through the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab under the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports program (ASCE-SPIL). This funding accelerates innovations that comply with evolving regulations and boost U.S. specialty crop exports.

2. Industry Expertise & Collaboration
Engage directly with C-level executives, researchers, and packaging leaders to gain actionable insights and scale your solutions effectively.

3. Market Readiness
Ensure your innovation complies with packaging regulations in key markets, including the EU, UK, Canada, and Japan.

4. Strategic Tools & Insights
Access life cycle assessments, regulatory guidance, and consumer behavior analytics to refine your packaging solutions for maximum impact.

5. Unparalleled Networking
Collaborate with researchers, exporters, and industry leaders to take your innovations to the global stage.

What Solutions Are We Looking for?

Increasing post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in primary food packaging
Increasing reusability in transport and group packaging including traceability
Compostable (home and/or industrially) packaging
Finding new formats to replace banned materials such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) coatings
Alternatives to shrink-wrapped individual containers, and containers for produce under 1.5 kg
Developing sticky labels for fresh fruit and vegetables that are both home and industrially compostable
Laser etching
Edible coatings
Compostable pads for absorbing moisture in clamshells or lidded trays
Compostable or reusable inserts or satchels for sequestering ethylene or carbon dioxide
Food-safe antimicrobial coatings for reusable packaging

Program Highlights

Immersion Week in California
Experience hands-on industry exposure, corporate visits, and valuable field insights.
Webinars
Join virtual sessions led by industry experts on public and private funding, trade information, success stories, and more.
One-on-One Mentorship
Work closely with industry veterans and IFPA members to refine your ideas.
Demo Day
Present your innovation to key stakeholders in the fresh produce sector.
Global Produce & Floral Show
Exhibit your solutions at this premier event in Anaheim, CA, on October 16–18, 2025, and connect with global leaders.

Join Us Today

Take the lead in shaping the future of sustainable packaging. Apply now to the Fresh Field Catalyst Program and make a lasting impact on the global fresh produce industry.

Apply Now

Let’s innovate together for a greener, more sustainable tomorrow!

For more information contact Vonnie Estes.

Program Timeline:

December 11, 2024: Applications Open

February 12, 2025: Applications Close

February 13 - April 14, 2025: Selection Process

May 4-9, 2025: Immersion week in California

August 2025: Demo Day

May-October 2025: 1:1 mentorship

May-October 2025: Webinars

Oct. 16-18, 2025 in Anaheim, CA: Global Produce & Floral Show

2024 Cohort Alumni

Susterre - Ontario, Canada

L5 Automation, Inc. - La Canada Flintridge, CA

Farm-ng - Watsonville, CA

Mirai Solar - San Francisco, CA

innov8.ag - Walla Walla, WA

Responsive Drip Irrigation, LLC - Bradenton, FL, USA and Abu Dhabi, UAE

Neolithics LTD - Tel Aviv, Israel

Helios Artificial Intelligence, Inc. - Tysons, VA

ClearLeaf - Wilmington, DE

Agragene Inc. - St. Louis, MO

Root Applied Sciences - Oakland, CA

Sufresca - Ness Ziona, Israel

2024 Fresh Field Catalyst Mentors

Pete Donlon, Vice President, Missionero

Matt Hoffman, Plant Health Technology Lead, Driscoll's

Curtis Garner, Founder, CCO, Verdant Robotics

Eric Morgan, VP Environmetal Science & Resource, Braga Fresh

Garland Perkins, Director of Innovation and Sustainability, OPPY

Bryant Woolsey, Senior Director, Walmart Sourcing, WalMart

Marty Craner, CEO/Founder, B&C Sales

Steve Brazeel, Founder/CEO, SunTerra

Mareese Keane, Co-founder, Opengate Partners

Kristen Smith Eshaya, President, JV Smith Companies

Erika Descoust, Wonderful Sales, Regional Sales Manager, NorCal

Dr. Duncan T. Aust, Chief Technology Officer of AgroFresh

2023 Cohort Alumni

Agrology - Alexandria, VA

Arable – San Francisco, CA

Avo Solutions - Chile

Bloomfield – Pittsburgh, PA

BloomX – Israel

FireFly-One – Texas

Four Growers – Pittsburgh, PA

Fyteko - Belgium

Gardin – United Kingdom

Intelligent Growth Solutions –Scotland

Moleaer – California

Spornado – Toronto, Ontario

2023 Fresh Field Catalyst Mentors

Matt Lingard, VP R&D, Bright Farms

Garland Perkins, Sr Manager Innovation and Sustainability, Oppy

Dorn Wenninger, VP of Produce, UNFI

Jim DiMenna, President, Red Sun Farms

Leonard Batti, VP, Taylor Farms

Raina Nelson, CEO, Westfalia Fruit

Eric Morgan, VP of Environmental Science & Resources, Braga Fresh

Miles Kohl, Chairman of Northwest Hort Association

Dan Kurdys, Director of Horticulture and Seed Growth, Bayer

Dwight Ferguson, CEO, California Agricultural Leadership

Nikki Cossio, CEO, Measure to Improve

Joe Barsi, President, Cal Giant

2022 Cohort Alumni

Provision - Calgary, Canada

Routeique Inc – Calgary, Canada

Nexus Robotics - Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Canada

Ten Carbon Chemistry Pty Ltd – Melbourne, Australia

Morphix Technologies – Virginia Beach, United States

Netled – Prikkala, Finland

Clarifruit – Rishon Le’zion, Israel

DiMuto - Singapore

The Yield Technology Solutions Pty Ltd – Sydney, Australia

Vitiport – Bratislava, Slovakia

SoundAg – Emeryville, United States

CarbonSpaceTech – Dublin, Ireland

2022 Fresh Field Catalyst Mentors

Gary Wishnatzki, CEO, Wish Farms

Judy Clark, CEO, Fresh From Texas, LLC

Jennifer Petersen, EVP / Chief Science Officer, Sun World International

Andy Hamilton, CEO, Markon

Jan DeLyser, Vice President Marketing at California Avocado Commission

Scott Komar, Senior Vice President of Global R&D, Driscoll’s

Ted Taylor, Head of New Ventures & Business Development at Taylor Farms

Curtis Garner, COO, Co-Founder Verdant Robotics

Max Teplitski, CSO, IFPA

Dorn Wenninger, Sr VP Produce UNFI

Dave Vosburg, Chief Innovation Officer, Local Bounti

Frequently Asked Questions

The Fresh Field Catalyst Technology Accelerator is a unique opportunity for scale-ups and innovative sustainable packaging companies wanting to learn about the produce industry and how to enter this market. The program includes:

One week immersion program on the U.S. West Coast (field visits, corporate visits)
Bi-weekly virtual meet-ups with industry experts (growers, shippers, IFPA staff) on topics relating to industry statistics, tech success and failure stories, challenges and access to funding
Access to IFPA proprietary data and analytics
Support to translate technology to agriculture or U.S. market
1-1 mentoring from IFPA members
Shared exhibit space with other members of the technology accerlator cohort and introductions to industry leaders at the Global Produce and Floral Show, Anaheim, California, October 16-18, 2025.

The Fresh Fields Catalyst Accelerator is a unique opportunity to connect and engage with relevant members of the fresh produce industry and learn directly from them how technology solutions can work best.

You can apply to the program by filling in the application form which closes on 3/20/23. Once received, your application will be reviewed by our team and a selection committee.
Shortlisted companies will attend a video conference meeting to discuss their goals and objectives of participation in the program.
10-12 companies will be selected and notified 4/3/23 - 4/10/23 and will be expected to attend the immersion week program in California 5/7/23 -5/12/23.

You are committing to a senior team member from your company traveling to the U.S. West Coast for a one-week immersion program, on the week of May 4-9, 2025.
You are committing to a senior team member participating in video conference meetings twice per month for the duration of the six-month program.
You are committing to a senior team member participating at the Global Fresh Produce Show in Anaheim, CA on October 16-18, 2025.
No fees are required for any of these events but travel costs and associated expenses are the responsibility of the participating company via their grant funding.

Funding will be provided for awards of between $50,000 and $250,000 each. The performance period for awards will be 12 months. In addition to funding, awardees will gain access to collaboration and networking opportunities, fresh produce industry and consumer insights, LCA analyses and legal reviews of emergent packaging regulations.

No. If you are selected to participate in the Fresh Fields Catalyst Accelerator, you must be in a position to fund your own travel and accommodation for the key events you will be required to attend.

IFPA will assist by arranging blocks of hotel rooms to be available for participants in the program, but participants are expected to cover their own room and board.

Applications from international entities are invited as long as there is a clearly described collaboration with US-based researchers, packaging companies or exporters of specialty crops.

Please do not submit any business plans, trade secrets, or “secret sauce.” Your application must include only non-confidential information. All information disclosed to us in your application will be considered non-confidential public information. FFP and IFPA will only treat information as confidential if the information is covered by a formal, written confidentiality agreement signed by all entities prior to disclosure.

Thank you to our 2024 Supporters

Questions?

Vonnie Estes

VP, Technology

International Fresh Produce Association

+1(650)666-9006 Email Vonnie Estes

Industry sponsorship opportunities

Peter S. Wilder

Sales and Engagement Manager

International Fresh Produce Association

+1(302)607-2115 Email Peter S. Wilder

Fresh Field Catalyst

Sponsorship Opportunities

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Fresh Field Catalyst

an IFPA Technology Accelerator

Join the Fresh Field Catalyst Program

Feed the Future with Reusable Packaging Solutions

2024 Cohort and Mentors

2024 Cohort Alumni

2024 Fresh Field Catalyst Mentors

2023 Cohort and Mentors

2023 Cohort Alumni

2023 Fresh Field Catalyst Mentors

2022 Cohort and Mentors

2022 Cohort Alumni

2022 Fresh Field Catalyst Mentors

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the program look like?

What are the benefits of participation?

How does the application process work?

What am I committing to if I join this program?

What is the funding availability?

Are there any travel funds?

Can I apply if our company and founders are not from the USA?

Will the information I submit be treated as confidential?

Thank you to our 2024 Supporters

Questions?

Industry sponsorship opportunities

Related Resources