College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) student Jonathan Stephens attended the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) Washington Conference earlier this summer. IFPA is a trade association that supports the world’s fresh produce and floral supply chains through advocacy and professional resources. Stephens, a food science senior, spent three days in Washington, D.C. networking with global industry experts and policymakers.
Stephens’ experience was made possible by funds awarded from the VP Promise Initiative. This initiative provides financial assistance to students who are enriching their education through experiences beyond the classroom, such as internships, study abroad, presenting research and more.
At IFPA’s Washington Conference, Stephens participated in internal policy meetings. These policy meetings cover niche interests within the organization, such as specialty crop alliances and migrant labor issues. Stephens participated in the education and professional development internal policy meeting, where the discussion focused on advocacy efforts.
“These perspectives were a healthy reminder of how important it is to continue the legacy of advocates across the globe and the importance of being considerate of the people you are representing,” said Stephens.
On the second day of the conference, Stephens attended two legislative briefing sessions. These sessions focused on the conference’s three main policy priorities: nutrition, labor and agricultural policy. They attended the nutrition session, which focused on the importance of fresh produce in federal nutrition programs.
“I had previously not learned much about how the procurement process works, but this was a refreshing discussion on how the USDA helps to feed families, schools, and local food banks through its engagement with agricultural producers amid our current economic landscape,” said Stephens.
They also attended the labor session, which discussed the importance of a reliable and affordable workforce in agriculture settings. The H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program and the Adverse Effect Wage Rate law were the main focuses of this meeting.
Following the briefing sessions, conference participants met with legislators on Capitol Hill. Stephens’s group met with the staff of Representative Kat Cammack, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio. They were able to discuss important agricultural programs, like the Specialty Crop Block Program, and research initiatives in Florida’s universities.
“This conference was integral to my professional development through reinforcing learned knowledge gained from research internships and educational spaces,” said Stephens. “Through this experience, I found an industry that wants me for my story and my talents.”
The VP Promise offers financial support to students engaging in experiential learning opportunities within agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences is dedicated to fostering student development and success, encouraging students to expand their horizons through participation in study abroad programs, leadership roles, scholarly conferences, and other enriching experiences.
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