Vonnie Estes to Retire from IFPA After Years Connecting Fresh Produce with Innovation; Cathy Burns Shares

WASHINGTON, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) announced that Vonnie Estes, vice president, agfood technology innovation, will retire at the end of 2026.

"Vonnie has helped our members and the industry see how emerging technology can solve real problems in produce and floral, always asking, ‘How might this be applied here?’" said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns in the recent release. "Through her connections across the agtech community, she opened doors for people who needed to meet, built real paths into fresh produce for startups and innovators, and brought new ideas directly to our members from the people building them. We're grateful for her leadership, and for the impact she has had on how we think about innovation. The connections she built will continue to benefit our industry for years to come."

Before joining the association, Estes spent more than 30 years bringing agricultural innovation to market at companies including Monsanto, Syngenta and DuPont, as well as venture-backed startups, with experience in business development, investment and commercialization. Since joining the association world through IFPA’s legacy organization, the Produce Marketing Association, her focus has been on connecting growers, technology companies, researchers and policymakers so that new tools reach commercial use faster. Her work has covered plant breeding and gene editing, artificial intelligence and data systems, automation and robotics, and sustainable packaging.

She started a podcast now known as Fresh Takes on Tech, and it has brought founders, scientists, investors, and executives into conversation with the produce and floral community. The podcast has given the industry a practical look at emerging technologies and a direct connection to many of the people developing them.

Estes also led IFPA’s Fresh Field Catalyst Accelerator that works in conjunction with The Foundation for Fresh Produce. The accelerator is a free, no-equity program that connects innovators with growers and buyers, offering on-the-ground experiences that ensure innovators are solving the actual problems the industry is facing. Most recently, she has led IFPA's Packaging Innovation Program, which works on new materials to address export and Extended Producer Responsibility challenges.

"This industry has been a privilege to work in because the people in it are always looking for a better way to grow, move and sell fresh produce," said Estes. "I'm proud of what we built together, from the accelerator to the podcast to the packaging work, and I'm especially grateful to the members, innovators and colleagues who were willing to try something new. I look forward to seeing where they take it next."

Estes will be at The Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando this month, where industry colleagues can connect and reflect in person.