Building Connections in the Fresh Produce and Floral Industry

International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), is a global trade association representing the fresh produce and floral supply chains throughout the world. IFPA integrates world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support through the representation of the interests, individuals, and organizations across the global supply chain, of all sizes and specialties.

The Challenge

In 2021, IFPA embarked on the creation of a mentoring program aimed at supporting connection and spurring collaboration for its industry members at its virtual Spring Conference. This program was received with great enthusiasm and in 2023 IFPA partnered with Pollinate Networks to automate, expand, and formalize this program for launch at the Spring 2023 International Fresh Produce Association Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference in Orlando Florida. The momentum continued with the 2024 program launching in Spring 2024 with pairs meeting their mentoring partner at the Conference.

Pollinate Approach:

IFPA and Pollinate collaborated to optimize its program application and establish a comprehensive mentor matching algorithm that optimized collaboration within its industry.
IFPA members from all over the world were recruited for participation as mentors and mentees in advance of the Spring Conference.
Recruits completed a virtual, custom designed comprehensive intake complete with a Knowledge Transfer Index learning collaboration assessment.
Matches were calibrated to focus on building competencies within specific functional subsectors of the Produce, Fruit, and Floral segments.
Mentor and Mentee matches were launched with a prescribed learning path and supportive eLearning Library complete with resources on successful mentoring practices.
The program was kicked off with an interactive roundtable presentation at the annual spring conference.
Increased demand from members led to the launch of a 2nd mentoring cohort launching post conference.
Comprehensive program tracking and population intelligence was used to monitor and enhance the program to further meet the needs of members.

Highlights

217 women matched into pairs

Program tripled in size since 2021

Kick-off at the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference allowed for in-person and virtual collaboration

Results

The Womens Fresh Perspectives Mentoring Program tripled in size since 2021 with a total of 140 participants enrolled in 2023 and 77 participants in 2024.
Unique participants from 80 organizations and 50+ locations are actively engaged with thousands of years of experience.
Combination of in person and virtual launches has increased accessibility and participation across the industry.
Mentees and Mentors are collaborating on a variety of topics including:

Client Testimonials

“A key part of the Women’s Fresh Perspectives mission to cultivate women’s potential is to foster valuable relationships and strong networks for our members. We all want and need connection to each other to exchange knowledge, gain exposure, generate ideas, and stay inspired. This mentoring program allows us to do just that. We’re very excited to bring this career-building mentoring program to our members."

Megan Nash

Director of Education and Talent, IFPA

“Your pairing was incredibly spot on. You couldn’t possibly have paired me with someone better. I signed up as a mentor now in this second group because I felt empowered to do that. It was really really cool to see how we paired so well.”

Program Participant

"My mentor has the industry experience to help me grow in my career, knowledge to respond to specific questions, and contacts to help me work through different challenges. She has a great personality, is very welcoming, nonjudgmental, and easy to talk to."

Program Participant

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