FFP and IFPA name 2025 cohort of innovators for Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator

May 5, 2025 Washington, DC – The Foundation for Fresh Produce (FFP) BB #:157162 and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) BB #:378962 announced the newest cohort of companies selected to participate in the 2025 Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator, a flagship program designed to connect promising technology innovators with leaders from the fresh produce and floral industries.

This groundbreaking initiative is presented in partnership with Clemson University, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is part of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s $10 million Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab, launched through the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) Initiative.

Launched in 2022, the Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator continues to attract cutting-edge companies whose technologies address some of the most pressing challenges facing the global produce supply chain. The 2025 cohort represents a range of innovations focused on sustainable packaging, traceability, shelf-life extension, and food waste reduction.

“Each year, we bring together a diverse group of innovative companies with real products that are on the forefront of food and ag innovation,” said Vonnie Estes, IFPA Vice President of AgFood Tech Innovation. “This cohort exemplifies how technology can be a powerful catalyst in addressing key industry issues in packaging solutions replacing single-use packaging economically and sustainably while meeting worldwide import and export regulations.”

The 2025 Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator cohort includes:
• Akorn Technology, Inc – Berkeley, California
• SAVRpak – San Juan Capistrano, California
• Corumat, Inc – Yakima, Washington
• Kwik Lok – Yakima, Washington
• Nat4Bio Corporation – San Francisco, California
• NNZ Inc – Lawrenceville, Georgia
• PakItGreen, Inc – East Lansing, Michigan
• Peelon – Austin, Texas
• Sway – San Francisco, California

Throughout the program, cohort participants will engage directly with produce and floral industry leaders to explore how their technologies can be adapted or scaled for industry use. A highlight of the program is the showcase at The Global Produce & Floral Show this October in Anaheim, California, USA.

“This program opens doors for collaboration and innovation that benefit the entire supply chain,” said Estes. “We’re excited to welcome these companies into the produce industry community and look forward to the impact they’ll make.”

This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service through the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports Initiative, which addresses non-tariff trade barriers facing U.S. exports of fruits, vegetables, and nuts to expand export opportunities for American farmers and businesses.

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

More information about the program and this year’s participants can be found on the IFPA website for the Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator.

About the International Fresh Produce Association (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.

Contact: Ashley Sempowski, asempowski@freshproduce.com, (202) 303-3406