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.  

Powered by a $5 million investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture FAS 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.  

“The breadth and quality of innovation represented in this new cohort is extraordinary,” said Vonnie Estes, IFPA vice president of ag innovation. “These 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.” 

Building on the success of its first cohort, the Packaging Innovation Program’s 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’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and Canada’s Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations are among the sweeping policy changes demanding new approaches to packaging materials, recyclability, and compostability. 

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.

Meet the 2026 Cohort: 

The seven selected companies represent a broad range of innovative approaches to specialty crop packaging: 

Graphic Packaging International 

Project focus: Compostable paperboard clamshell replacement with shelf-life extension for fresh produce.

It’s Fresh Limited 

Project focus:  Development of a recyclable film for cardboard punnets and pre-made salads that prolongs shelf-life and reduces food waste. 

Metalchemy Limited 

Project focus: Metalchemy® Antimicrobial REearthable trays for sustainable specialty crop packaging.

Northern Technologies International / Natur-Tec 

Project focus: PFAS & PVDC-Free Compostable Barrier Laminates for Moisture/Oxygen-Sensitive Dried Fruits and Tree Nuts.

Paramount Planet Product, LLC 

Project focus: Ocean compostable fish-friendly packaging innovation. 

PurePour Foods, LLC 

Project focus: Development of compostable dual-format packaging (PurePack Duo™) for seed-oil-free dressings. 

Singularity 

Project focus: Performance-enhancing additive for recycle-ready flexible packaging for food. 

“The specialty crop industry is at an inflection point,” said IFPA Chief Science Officer, Max Teplitski, PhD. “Growers 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 — practical, scalable solutions that can move the needle on food loss, sustainability, and market access for U.S. producers.”