The CGF’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative and the International Fresh Produce Association bring sustainability conversations to life around the world’s largest produce and floral gathering.

The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) — an industry solution of The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) that drives trust, transparency, and continuous improvement in supply chain certification — partnered with CGF member, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), to host a series of high-level meetings and sessions around The Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, 15 to 18 October 2025.

As the world’s largest gathering for the fresh produce and floral industry, the annual show brought together more than 20,000 attendees from across the globe. SSCI and IFPA used this global moment to connect with members and stakeholders, align on sustainability priorities, and advance shared efforts to strengthen benchmarking and sustainability standards across the sector.

Beyond the Benchmark

Businesses everywhere share the same challenge: knowing they can trust what they buy, sell, and source. The Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative helps make that possible.

The SSCI is the consumer goods industry’s solution to building trust in sustainability standards globally. We work with around 40 leading companies and organisations to provide a clear, recognised baseline for standards covering social and environmental compliance. Our globally-recognised process promotes harmonisation, supporting companies in their due diligence and benefiting millions of workers. As of today, 15 schemes are engaged with the SSCI benchmarking process, with seven achieving recognition and eight under assessment. 

The meetings in Anaheim sparked important discussions that provided a clear example of how SSCI’s collaborative approach shapes industry dialogue on sustainability.

Sustainability in Action 

Throughout the week, SSCI and IFPA brought together our North American members and sustainability stakeholders to connect, align, and act. Member representatives from MSD Animal Health, Naturipe Farms, and Taylor Farms joined discussions — reflecting SSCI’s reach across retail, agribusiness, and production. Participants shared practical insights and explored how aligned sustainability expectations can strengthen trust across global supply chains.

The week opened with a stakeholder dinner, where SSCI and IFPA welcomed participants from across the produce and floral value chain to share experiences and priorities in an open setting alongside CGF members — setting the tone for practical collaboration and partnership.

Daniela España, Director of Florverde® Sustainable Flowers, said, ““The SSCI–IFPA collaboration in Anaheim created an invaluable platform to connect producers, buyers, suppliers and partners across the entire value chain. Florverde® was proud to be one of the first standards recognised by the SSCI for the floriculture and ornamentals sector, because we truly believe in the value it brings to producers and the entire supply chain.”

The following day, the IFPA Sustainability Council Meeting brought those conversations into focus. Participants heard updates on IFPA’s latest initiatives, explored how SSCI’s benchmarking process is shaping credible certification, and discussed the building blocks of a global sustainability framework — from regenerative agriculture to shared accountability.

The week concluded with an engaging X-Change Session on “Sustainability Standards in Produce & Floral” at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, moderated by Tamara Muruetagoiena, IFPA’s Director of Sustainability. The panel brought together leading voices from across the sector, including Didier Bergeret, Director of Sustainability at The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), alongside Daniela España, Director of Florverde® Sustainable Flowers, Roberta Anderson, President of GLOBAL G.A.P., and Kelsey Ray, Corporate Engagement & Partnerships, Rainforest Alliance.

Discussions centered on how harmonised sustainability standards can reduce audit fatigue, enhance transparency, and support growers and buyers in meeting both environmental and social expectations. Topics included mutual recognition between standards, the integration of regenerative agriculture practices, and the role of certification as a market and financial driver in rewarding responsible production.

Reflecting on SSCI’s contribution to the dialogue, Didier Bergeret said “When we talk about benchmarking, we’re really talking about trust — ensuring that every actor in the supply chain is working from the same foundation of integrity and accountability. Through our partnership with IFPA, we’re connecting the dots between ambition and action, helping businesses move from isolated good practice to systems that do no harm and do good at scale.”

Growing Impact Through Partnership

The fresh produce and floral sector is a cornerstone of global food systems — connecting farmers, suppliers, and retailers across continents and underpinning livelihoods in every region. The global fresh fruits and vegetables market alone was valued at approximately USD 854 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed USD 1.27 trillion by 2033 (Grand View Research, 2024). Yet this significant sector faces mounting pressure to deliver transparency, environmental governance, and ethical sourcing at scale.

For SSCI, engaging with IFPA — North America’s leading voice for the produce and floral industry — represents a strategic opportunity to advance credible sustainability standards where global supply and consumer demand converge. The collaboration demonstrates how benchmarking and shared learning in business can strengthen market trust, reduce duplication, and build resilience.

By stakeholders together in Anaheim, SSCI reinforced its role as a trusted bridge between business and assurance systems a— one that helps turn commitments into action through practical, scalable tools. These conversations set the stage for deeper collaboration on regenerative agriculture, environmental benchmarks, and the future integration of sustainability frameworks across sectors.

The SSCI thanks all members, partners, stakeholders who joined the discussions in Anaheim — and looks forward to turning this momentum into measurable progress for responsible sourcing worldwide. Join us next year at The Sustainable Retail Summit to continue the conversations and build lasting change. 

Learn more about SSCI’s benchmarking work and recognised schemes at the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative.