A newly energised Global Coalition of Fresh Produce has initiated a collaborative effort to improve transparency and efficiency in international fresh produce shipping. The group seeks to address inflated freight costs, limited logistics visibility, and fragmented trade practices by uniting growers, exporters, carriers, and retailers.

Coalition overview
The Coalition includes Freshfel Europe, IFPA (International Fresh Produce Association), CPMA (Canadian Produce Marketing Association), COLEACP, SHAFFE, Afruibana, and CFNA. Its mission is to reinforce the status of fresh fruits and vegetables as essential goods and to promote policies that stabilise and support value chains. Multilateral institutions such as the WTO, FAO, and the World Shipping Council are being invited into the dialogue to align regulatory frameworks with sector requirements.

Transparency initiative
The Coalition’s transparency initiative focuses on mapping and monitoring shipping practices across routes and carriers, creating common data standards for container utilisation, freight rates, delays, and traceability, and enabling fairer access to shipping capacity for smaller operators. It also intends to provide a unified voice to governments and international agencies on incentive and subsidy mechanisms, while linking environmental, economic, and social goals in the fresh produce trade.

A recent meeting convened by the Coalition brought together participants from across the value chain to identify collaborative approaches for transparency in fresh produce shipping.

Current pressures
Fresh produce supply chains remain under pressure. Rising input and logistical costs, shipping delays, and unpredictable trade conditions continue to affect profitability. Earlier Coalition surveys indicated that more than half of producers in Europe reported only breaking even, with many operating at a loss.

The pandemic highlighted both the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables to global diets and the vulnerabilities within their supply chains.

Next steps
The Coalition plans to launch working groups, pilot transparency tools, and introduce policy proposals over the coming year. It has called for greater coordination from decision-makers and industry stakeholders to advance harmonised rules and policies in the fresh produce sector.

If adopted, these measures aim to strengthen supply chains, reduce barriers for smaller exporters, and create more resilient fresh produce trade flows.

Source: FreshTalkDaily