Mar 1, 2009 12:00 PM

United Fresh Produce Association will establish a new Supply Chain Technology & Logistics Program to serve its members in all areas of supply chain management, including transportation, cold chain quality control, information technologies and systems for traceability, facilities management, packing and packaging needs, and related areas.

The new program is made possible in part through a major grant from C.H. Robinson to the Center for Business Management within the United Fresh Research & Education Foundation. The Robinson grant will support a new initiative to develop education programs and tools to assist industry members with the rising cost and complexity of transportation, including trucking, rail, air, and ocean shipping. The initiative will also include an increased focus on transportation and logistics solutions at the United Fresh convention April 22-24, 2009, in Las Vegas NV.

United Fresh also will launch a new legislative and regulatory initiative related to policy issues in transportation and distribution. According to Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy, United's new Vice President of Legislative and Government Affairs Kam Quarles will bring a specific focus to transportation policy issues.