PTNPA: The Voice of America's Nut Industry

As the premier trade association for the nut industry, the Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association (PTNPA) stands as the authoritative voice of America's nut industry. With a commitment to compliance and collaboration, PTNPA plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of this vital sector of the food industry.

PTNPA’s CEO Jeannie Shaughnessy discussed PTNPA priorities during a recent “Food Safety Matters” podcast hosted by Safety Magazine. Listen to the full episode here (Shaughnessy’s interview begins at 38:05).

Advocacy and Regulatory Management

PTNPA serves as a powerful and credible advocate for its diverse Members, navigating complex regulatory landscapes and ensuring the industry's interests are clearly understood. For example, the sector tirelessly manages food safety, allergen controls, and regulatory compliance. By proactively creating and maintaining open lines of communication with government agencies and policymakers, PTNPA creates a favorable environment for industry growth and innovation.

One powerful way PTNPA enables timely and important conversations is through events such as the Washington, DC Fly-In. In 2024, the FDA’s Deputy Director of the Human Foods Program, Jim Jones, met with attendees from PTNPA member organizations.

“Members were thrilled to have the opportunity to be with him in that environment,” said Shaughnessy. “That opportunity to sit around a table with 30 of our Members and just let them ask questions of him (Jones) about where is FDA heading? Or do you realize how difficult it is to try to implement the traceability rule or what really is expected of us?”

Fostering Industry Collaboration

PTNPA's core strengths include bringing together diverse stakeholders within the nut industry. Regular educational events, such as the annual Operations and Technical Food Safety Forum, exclusively designed for PTNPA Members, result in unmatched opportunities to share insights, discuss challenges, and collaborate on solutions.

“I go back to the wonderful membership that we have. They're all competitors on the retail shelf, but when it comes time for food safety, we're all collaborative, and we all know if there's a recall for one company, it's bad for the entire industry," said Shaughnessy. "So having a dedicated event completely focused on food safety and then completely focused on the nut industry makes it extraordinarily unique."

Driving Innovation and Best Practices

PTNPA is at the forefront of promoting industry-wide advancements. Strategic Committees and events facilitate the constant exchange of knowledge and best practices among members. The association tackles topics including sustainability and standards for excellence, which ensures that PTNPA Members remain competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace. Examples of unique partnerships include the Smith Business School at the University of Maryland, which provides PTNPA Members with a VIP experience through the AI for Business Leaders Course.

“What I see happening now is almost like the building a culture of food safety: I'm noticing I'm building a culture of AI,” predicted Shaughnessy. “We have members in the PTNPA who actually are in the AI space, and \they're beginning to bring some food safety solutions that our Members, who are manufacturers and processors, can actually begin to apply to the way that they're processing products.”

Unwavering Commitment as the Voice of America's Nut Industry

PTNPA's unwavering commitment to serving as the Voice of America's Nut Industry is achieved through collaboration, open communication, unparalleled advancement, and thought leadership.

In the next “Voice of America’s Nut Industry” article, we will explore how PTNPA promotes connectivity and knowledge sharing among PTNPA Members.