More ways to connect with FFVA

You’ve never had more opportunities to connect with FFVA and help us serve our great industry. The association's seven committees focus on key issues that affect specialty crop agriculture. These groups strengthen FFVA’s voice, involve members in the association and help us continue to shape sound agricultural policy.

Learn more about how you can get involved, or send us an email.

FFVA Committee Members:
Committee members: Go to https://connect.ffva.com/committees to see recent materials and discussions.

Committees

Advocacy

Provide direction and oversight for FFVA legislative and political activities at the state and federal levels.  Also provide oversight of the association’s issues management and communications on key issues:
- Legislation affecting FFVA members
- Oversight of FFVA’s Political Action Committee
- Identification and oversight of key issue management processes for FFVA
- Identification and prioritization of legislative issues for active FFVA intervention

Scope of work:
• Support and coordination of Political Action Committee activities
• Coordination and development of FFVA position statements and testimony for Legislative activities
• Support and develop membership education and grassroots efforts in the legislative arena
• Provide oversight of FFVA’s efforts to influence the public’s perception on key issues.

Food Safety and Sustainability

Provide direction and coordination of FFVA activities related to food safety and sustainability; including identification of educational and research needs of the membership, and emerging issues that could impact Florida producers:
- Implementation of food safety regulations
- Oversight of FFVA food safety member services
- Regulatory and supply chain sustainability initiatives

Scope of work:
• Identify and coordinate FFVA membership regulatory compliance needs for food safety.
• Identify and coordinate gaps in research in food safety program implementation and compliance.
• Support development of policy positions, comments and other regulatory intervention as federal and state food safety programs are mandated and implemented.
• Identify gaps in educational programs available to the membership for both food safety and sustainability programs and support development of FFVA outreach and education activities.
• Serve as a forum for development of collective response to food safety and sustainability demands on the membership from government and the supply chain.

Production Management

Provide direction and coordination of FFVA activities related to all aspects of crop production, including identification of educational and research needs of the membership and emerging issues that could impact Florida producers:
- Regulatory issues and enforcement related to crop protection tools
- Nutrient management
- Invasive pests
- Non‐target impacts of crop production practices

Scope of work:
• Identify and coordinate FFVA membership regulatory compliance needs for crop production activities.
• Identify and prioritize research gaps for crop production practices, pest management and invasive pests.
• Support development of policy positions, comments and other regulatory interventions as federal and state programs affecting crop production and management practices are introduced, mandated and implemented.
• Identify gaps in educational programs available to the membership on crop production innovations or regulatory programs and support development of FFVA outreach and education activities.
• Serve as a forum for development of collective response on crop production issues for the membership.

Research

Facilitate the collection, compilation and prioritization of research needs identified by the policy committees of FFVA and communicate, coordinate and collaborate with the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation, the University of Florida, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and other research institutions to ensure the priority needs of FFVA’s members are met:
- Assessment of industry needs
- Coordination with state and federal research institutions
- Collaboration with Florida Specialty Crop Foundation

Scope of work:
• Compile and catalogue research needs as identified by the policy committees.
• Develop a framework for communicating the needs of the Florida industry to research institutions.
• Provide a forum for development of a priority ranking system for research needs.
• Identify and facilitate participation in funding to provide the needed research opportunities.
• Provide for collective participation in the identification of critical research positions across the commodity diversity within the FFVA membership.

Supply Chain Management

Provide direction and coordination of FFVA activities related to supply chain management, including identification of educational and research needs of the membership and emerging issues that could affect Florida producers:
- Domestic and international supply chain regulatory matters
- Traceability
- Fresh From Florida and other promotional activities
- Transportation

Scope of work:
• Identify and coordinate FFVA membership regulatory compliance needs for orderly and efficient marketing of produce
• Identify and prioritize research gaps for all aspects of the supply chain.
• Coordinate with appropriate parties to promote and enhance the market for Florida products.
• Development of policy positions, comments and other regulatory interventions as international, federal and state programs are developed and implemented that impact trade in agricultural products
• Identify gaps in educational programs available to the membership innovations or regulatory programs concerning supply chain management and support development of FFVA outreach and education activities.
• Serve as a forum for developmen

Water and Land Use

Provide direction and coordination of FFVA activities related to water and land use, including identification of educational and research needs of the membership and emerging issues that could impact Florida producers:
- Water and natural resources regulatory matters
- Best Management Practices
- Growth management, including property rights and water management district oversight

Scope of work:
• Identification and coordination of FFVA membership regulatory compliance needs associated with water and land use.
• Identification and prioritization of research gaps impacting Florida growers’ water and land use.
• Support development of policy positions, comments and other regulatory interventions as federal and state programs impacting water and land use are introduced, mandated and implemented.
• Identify gaps in educational programs available to the membership on requirements or participation in regulatory programs concerning water and land use, and support development of FFVA outreach and education activities.
• Serve as a forum for development of collective response on water and land use issues for the membership.

Workforce

Provide direction and coordination of FFVA activities related to all aspects of agricultural labor availability and management, including identification of educational and research needs of the membership, and emerging issues that could impact Florida producers:
- Workforce regulations
- Health care
- H‐2A program oversight

Scope of work:
• Identification and coordination of FFVA membership regulatory compliance needs for maintaining its agricultural workforce.
• Identification and prioritization of research gaps associated with Florida’s agricultural workforce, including economics, training needs, and impact of regulatory requirements.
• Support development of policy positions, comments and other regulatory interventions as federal and state programs impacting agricultural labor are introduced, mandated and implemented.
• Identify gaps in educational programs available to the membership on regulatory programs impacting agricultural labor, and support development of FFVA outreach and education activities.
• Serve as a forum for development of collective response on workforce management requirements from the government and supply chain.