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The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) and The Foundation for Fresh Produce recently announced the second cohort of the Packaging Innovation Program. The 2026 cohort includes seven companies developing cutting-edge packaging technologies for U.S. specialty crop exports. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Powered by a $5 million investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture FAS<\/a> and implemented in partnership with Clemson University and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), the Packaging Innovation Program is accelerating the development of packaging that extends shelf life, reduces food loss and waste, and meets rapidly evolving international packaging regulations. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe breadth and quality of innovation represented in this new cohort is extraordinary,\u201d said Vonnie Estes, IFPA vice president of ag innovation<\/strong>. \u201cThese companies are tackling the most pressing packaging challenges facing U.S. specialty crop producers, from compostability and recyclability to shelf-life extension and regulatory compliance. We are proud to support their work and to connect them with the resources, partnerships, and market access they need to succeed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Building on the success of its first cohort, the Packaging Innovation Program\u2019s second class of innovators addresses the urgent packaging challenges facing U.S. specialty crop exporters as regulations tighten across key markets including the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia. The EU\u2019s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation<\/a> (PPWR) and Canada\u2019s Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations are among the sweeping policy changes demanding new approaches to packaging materials, recyclability, and compostability.\u00a0<\/p>\n The seven selected companies will receive non-dilutive funding awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, plus direct access to industry leaders, market readiness support, life cycle assessments, and regulatory guidance. This work is supported by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service through the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports Initiative.<\/p>\n The seven selected companies represent a broad range of innovative approaches to specialty crop packaging:\u00a0<\/p>\n Project focus: Compostable paperboard clamshell replacement with shelf-life extension for fresh produce.<\/p>\n Project focus: \u00a0Development of a recyclable film for cardboard punnets and pre-made salads that prolongs shelf-life and reduces food waste.\u00a0<\/p>\n Project focus: Metalchemy\u00ae Antimicrobial REearthable trays for sustainable specialty crop packaging.<\/p>\n Project focus: PFAS & PVDC-Free Compostable Barrier Laminates for Moisture\/Oxygen-Sensitive Dried Fruits and Tree Nuts.<\/p>\n Project focus: Ocean compostable fish-friendly packaging innovation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Project focus: Development of compostable dual-format packaging (PurePack Duo\u2122) for seed-oil-free dressings.\u00a0<\/p>\n Project focus: Performance-enhancing additive for recycle-ready flexible packaging for food.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe specialty crop industry is at an inflection point,\u201d said IFPA Chief Science Officer, Max Teplitski, PhD<\/strong>. \u201cGrowers and exporters need packaging that not only meets the wave of new international regulations but actively helps them get more product to market in better condition. The companies in this cohort are building exactly that \u2014 practical, scalable solutions that can move the needle on food loss, sustainability, and market access for U.S. producers.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\nMeet the 2026 Cohort:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Graphic Packaging International\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
It\u2019s Fresh Limited\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Metalchemy Limited\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Northern Technologies International \/ Natur-Tec\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Paramount Planet Product, LLC\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
PurePour Foods, LLC\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Singularity\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n