Bill Brim of Lewis Taylor Farms in Tifton, GA (left) meets with Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA) during WPPC Congressional visits.
United Fresh Produce Association is headquartered in Washington, D.C. for one reason - to provide the fresh produce industry with unparalleled access and representation among federal policy makers! Our goal everyday is to deliver unmatched value to our members in shaping legislative, regulatory, political and legal solutions to challenges threatening the industry's growth and profitability, while developing opportunities for success in your business.
The United Fresh Advocacy Resource Center is the produce industry's one-stop center for political communications. This site was developed to provide you with information about United Fresh’s political activities, and to show how you can join our grassroots team.
While United Fresh serves as your year round contact in Washington, D.C., it is critical that legislators hear directly from the people they were sent to Washington to represent. Take advantage of the United Fresh Grassroots Action Network to send a letter to your Members of Congress and get your voice heard!
The United Fresh Advocacy Resource Center enables you to:
- Use our Grassroots Action Network to send a letter to your Member of Congress
- Determine your elected officials, and learn how to contact their offices
- Find Summaries of key legislation impacting the produce industry
- Sign-up to receive Action Alerts - notifying you when your involvement can make a critical difference
- Find tips about how to communicate with Members of Congress, Capitol Hill staff, and about how to influence the legislative process
- Learn about United Fresh’s Political Activities
Take Action on Legislative Issues - Contact Members of Congress about issues important to your company. The United Fresh Grassroots Action Network is a free online tool that provides a fast, easy, and effective way to reach your Members of Congress and share your concerns. Click here to send a letter.
Attend the Washington Public Policy Conference (WPPC) - This is United Fresh Produce Association's annual legislative conference, held each September in Washington, D.C. Attended by over 300 produce industry executives and senior managers, this is the produce industry’s opportunity to come together in our nation’s capital and discuss the major policy and regulatory issues affecting our collective industry. Conference attendees in the past have heard from key Members of Congress, top regulatory officials, visited the White House, and met face to face with their Member of Congress during congressional visits scheduled by United Fresh staff.
Host a Member of Congress at Your Facility - Invite a Member of Congress and Congressional staff to tour your facility; organize a fundraiser for their campaign, or host a simple "meet and greet" event with other produce industry members to begin building a relationship with your Member of Congress. Elected officials enjoy meeting with their constituents, and personal touches are key to ensuring you have their ear when it matters most. If you are interested, Email us here at United Fresh and we will help set up your event.
Meet with Your Member of Congress - Schedule a meeting with your Members of Congress. Meetings can be scheduled when they are back in their district office when Congress is in recess, or in their Washington, D.C. office - Just ask us for help! United Fresh is committed to increasing your access to your elected officials. Meeting one on one and telling a personal story, is key getting your message across.
Attend a Town Hall Meeting - Often during a Congressional recess period, Members of Congress return to their local district and hold town hall meetings. They are eager to meet with constituents and hear their concerns. Attending a town hall meeting provides an excellent opportunity to speak directly to a Member of Congress and the meet members of their staff who work on your issues.
Idaho delegation is greeted by their Senator Mike Crapo (ID) during WPPC Congressional visits organized by United Fresh.
Congressional Connection Profile - Help us know who is in your network. If you have a relationship with a Member of Congress, please take a few minutes to complete this brief profile. Developing a relationship with your Member of Congress is of utmost importance if you want your issues front and center. However, if you already have a relationship with a Member of Congress, know a member of their family, or attend the same church or community group, this relationship can also make a difference, and this information is important for United Fresh staff to know.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (far right) and Chairman Dennis Cardoza (second from left), Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, House Agriculture Committee, discuss the produce industry with United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel (far left) and Al Vangelos (center), chairman of the newly formed United Fresh Grower-Shipper Board.
 The United Fresh Produce Association Political Action Committee (United FreshPAC) raises funds to support the election campaigns of public officials favorable to the fresh produce industry. It is in our industry's interest to ensure that Members of Congress who know and understand our issues remain on Capitol Hill, and protect our members' interests. United FreshPAC contributions must be made using personal funds.
Having a strong and vibrant PAC is critical to effective policy making and ensuring Members of Congress are attentive to our business issues. United Fresh continues to grow the United FreshPAC and will ensure political allies remain in Congress and supportive of the industry.
To make a contribution, or to receive more information about the United FreshPAC, click here.
Authorize Your Company - Join the Team! Authorize your company to participate in United FreshPAC events and help our industry become a stronger force on Capitol Hill.
Elect and Keep Industry Supporters in Congress - United FreshPAC is a bi-partisan, separate fund used for the sole purpose of supporting federal candidates who support our industry’s objectives.
Encourage Company Participation - Your employees, shareholders, and their families have a stake in your company.
Get them interested in the political issues important to your company's success, and introduce your staff to the United FreshPAC and the Grassroots Action Network. Encourage your employees to become United FreshPAC contributors and to take action on political issues by sending messages to Capitol Hill.
Pictured left to right are Brendan Comito, Capital City Fruit, United Fresh Chairman-Elect Jim Lemke, C.H. Robinson, John Gurissi, Darden Restaurants and Mike Wise of the Horton Fruit Company, at the United FreshPAC Event, held on the roof-top deck of Charlie Palmer’s Steakhouse in Washington, D.C.
Dave Smith (far-right), past President of the Idaho-Grower Shippers Association poses with United Fresh Political Affairs Manager Angela Bezon, and the rest of his “Spuddy buddies” bowling team, at the United FreshPAC Bowling Event in Las Vegas.
For more information about the United FreshPAC, contact United Fresh Political Affairs Manager Angela Bezon at (202) 303-3400.
The United Fresh "Produce Power Education Fund" provides companies the opportunity to make an additional commitment to support United Fresh's lobbying efforts, specifically by investing in initiatives to educate Members of Congress and Washington policy makers about produce industry issues. Funds for Produce Power Education are used to educate Members of Congress and their staff by organizing field trips to grower operations and state of the art packing and processing facilities, and to bring experts from around the country to Washington, D.C. to discuss industry issues at special briefings. Produce Power Education Fund enables the development white papers and research on key issues, and more.
When you support Produce Power Education Fund you become part of an important group of industry leaders who understand the produce industry must compete in an arena of varying interests, all vying for the attention of our elected leaders in Washington.
Support the Produce Power Education Fund
House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Collin Peterson; House Agriculture
Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro; and Appropriations Committee Member Congressmen Sam Farr speak with United Fresh Sr. VP of Public Policy Robert Guenther.
For more information on how to get involved with Produce Power Education, contact United Fresh Political Affairs Manager Angela Bezon at United Fresh at (202) 303-3400.
Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill is the produce industry's time to mingle with Members of Congress and hand out samples of their products for legislators to see and taste! United Fresh invites you to sign-up to sponsor this event and showcase your freshest products to Members of Congress, congressional staff, and Administration officials!
Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill occurs at the Washington Public Policy Conference (WPPC).
Exhibit at Fresh Festival and showcase your produce for all to see and taste!
Fresh Festival provides an excellent opportunity to:
- Discuss one-on-one the policies impacting your business and get Congressional leaders engaged and excited about our issues!
- Showcase your new and innovative products to Washington's leading law makers in a unique setting that can help you build your political relationships
- Demonstrate your company's prestige and leadership in the produce industry, sending the message that you are a power player
State Watermelon Queens serve freshly sliced watermelon to Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill attendees.
For information about Fresh Festival on Capitol Hill 2009, contact United Fresh Policy and Grassroots Coordinator Andrew Marshall at amarshall@unitedfresh.org or (202) 303-3400.
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