The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) ANZ has appointed two of Australasia’s fresh produce industry leaders to the board of directors – Perfection Fresh Australia chief commercial officer, John Simonetta, and New Zealand’s Jenkins Group managing director, Cameron McInness.
The IFPA ANZ board comprises 10 fresh produce industry leaders who represent a range of sectors across the supply chain, including growers, marketers, retailers, technology innovators, researchers and strategy experts.
IFPA ANZ managing director, Belinda Wilson, said there was an extraordinary volume of highly accredited applicants for the board positions, which became available at the annual general meeting on 20 December 2024.
“It’s great to see so many members wanting to be part of our organisation, get involved in driving its strategic direction and ensure members are engaged and supported,” said Wilson.
Simonetta and McInness were among the advocates who proposed the IFPA (formerly the Produce Marketing Association) establish an Australia-New Zealand branch in 2009, and Perfection Fresh and Jenkins Group are both long-term members and supporters of the organisation’s activities.
Simonetta has held various senior executive roles at Perfection Fresh, one of Australia's largest privately owned fresh produce businesses, since 1997. In his current role, he is responsible for all commercial operations including sales, supply, fulfilment and export. In addition to his IFPA ANZ directorship, he is a committee member of the Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association.
“I’m looking forward to working with other directors to ensure we engage with retailers and consumers to increase the consumption of fresh produce and create excitement around fruit and vegetables,” said Simonetta.
“It’s an exciting time for the industry. Global trends show there is an increase in health and wellness and a rise in in-home dining. This is all great news for fresh produce consumption and presents opportunities to leverage.
“In terms of the environment, packaging is one of the important and major steps industry needs to take. It’s difficult to be green if you’re in the red but it’s become more affordable and achievable for producers to work towards sustainable options,” he said.
McInness was appointed managing director of fresh produce packaging innovator and supplier, Jenkins Group, in September 2024. Previously, he was director of new ventures and innovation, a role he held since 2018. His background is in general management and product commercialisation.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the IFPA's efforts to champion the fresh produce industry across Australia and New Zealand,” said McInness.
“I’m particularly excited to contribute to initiatives that foster the next generation of talent, address evolving industry challenges like sustainable packaging, and drive innovation within our industry.
“One of the biggest industry challenges is the cost of labour in relation to productivity and automation. Australasia is undergoing rapid change in this space,” he said.
The organisation stated that membership is continuing to grow year-on-year, and a key focus for 2025 would be on developing a strategy targeting membership growth.
