Full Name
Sara Neagu-Reed
Job Title
Director, Production & Environmental Policy
Company
International Fresh Produce Association
Speaker Bio
Sara Neagu-Reed is the Director of Production and Environmental Policy at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), where she leads federal legislative and regulatory efforts focused on production challenges across conventional, organic, and regenerative agriculture. With a strong foundation in farm policy and a career dedicated to supporting the specialty crop sector, Sara advocates on behalf of fruit, vegetable, and horticultural producers on critical issues such as crop protection, organic policy, and Farm Bill implementation.
Sara brings deep expertise in navigating the complex intersection of agricultural production and environmental policy. Her work spans a broad spectrum of federal issues impacting growers, ranging from pest management and pesticide regulatory reform to organic certification standards. She plays a central role in developing IFPA’s policy strategies that promote a more resilient, science-driven, and economically viable future for specialty crop producers nationwide.
Prior to joining IFPA, Sara served as Advocacy and Government Affairs Director at AmericanHort, where she managed a diverse portfolio including employment policy, pest and disease management, and key provisions of the Farm Bill. Earlier in her career, she represented California agriculture as Associate Director of Federal Policy at the California Farm Bureau Federation, where she engaged directly with Congress, USDA, and the Department of Labor on behalf of the state's fruit, vegetable, and nut producers. She also served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Legislative Analyst at USDA, supporting Marketing and Regulatory Programs with a focus on specialty crop priorities and organic agriculture.
Sara holds a B.A. in Politics from the University of San Francisco and recently earned a Master of Public Administration and Policy from Texas A&M University. With a commitment to practical, producer-driven policy, she continues to be a strong voice for advancing innovation, sustainability, and regulatory clarity within the U.S. specialty crop sector.
Sara brings deep expertise in navigating the complex intersection of agricultural production and environmental policy. Her work spans a broad spectrum of federal issues impacting growers, ranging from pest management and pesticide regulatory reform to organic certification standards. She plays a central role in developing IFPA’s policy strategies that promote a more resilient, science-driven, and economically viable future for specialty crop producers nationwide.
Prior to joining IFPA, Sara served as Advocacy and Government Affairs Director at AmericanHort, where she managed a diverse portfolio including employment policy, pest and disease management, and key provisions of the Farm Bill. Earlier in her career, she represented California agriculture as Associate Director of Federal Policy at the California Farm Bureau Federation, where she engaged directly with Congress, USDA, and the Department of Labor on behalf of the state's fruit, vegetable, and nut producers. She also served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Legislative Analyst at USDA, supporting Marketing and Regulatory Programs with a focus on specialty crop priorities and organic agriculture.
Sara holds a B.A. in Politics from the University of San Francisco and recently earned a Master of Public Administration and Policy from Texas A&M University. With a commitment to practical, producer-driven policy, she continues to be a strong voice for advancing innovation, sustainability, and regulatory clarity within the U.S. specialty crop sector.
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