TUCSON, AZ - On January 13, the FPAA will kick off the first produce show of 2027 with the fourth edition of SWIPE. This year, the show is all about one thing: networking, networking, and, yes, more networking.

So much of business is built on connections, and there may be no better place to make them than SWIPE. The FPAA members and staff have put together three days packed with opportunities to reconnect with longtime colleagues, meet new people, and build relationships. Each day is designed to get people out of their hotel room and into the action, connecting with peers throughout the industry.

SWIPE has golfers of all levels covered with a fun-focused tournament on one of the best courses in Arizona and with January weather that is hard to beat. A day in the Arizona sunshine, surrounded by green grass and a warm breeze, is a great way to relax, reconnect, and spend time with industry peers.

“No one on this course is retiring to join the PGA, but we are all there to have a great time with people we know and people we are meeting for the first time,” says SWIPE Golf Chair Kyle McGrath of EarthBlend in the recent release.

For the non-golfer crowd, SWIPE is taking the pickleball tournament to another level. Two world-renowned luchadores from Mexico will join the competition this year. The luchadores will play throughout the day, and the tournament’s top team will have to face them for the grand championship. The Lucha Libre Pickleball Paddle Battle is one event attendees won’t want to miss.

“Not being a golfer, I was very excited to see pickleball return. This year they are starting the tournament with a quick warm-up and some Pickleball 101 lessons held by some of Tucson’s top players. It’s a great way for newer players to jump right into the fun, and it’s a great way to start the show while meeting new people,” says Mark Munger of IPR Fresh and one of the SWIPE organizers.

Thursday will kick off with Education Sessions designed to bring value to all attendees. Suppliers and buyers will learn the best steps for negotiating in business, how to leverage the power of social media, and the many ways the Food is Medicine movement can benefit the produce industry. The FPAA is also excited to bring an exclusive look at “Reading the Signals: A 2027 Outlook for the Fresh Produce Supply Chain” by the data experts at the Blue Book.

“We really focused on elevating our education sessions to make them attractive to both buyers and sellers. We went out of our way to make them a place of learning, but also a place to spend time learning together,” said Allison Moore, Executive Vice President at FPAA.

SWIPE reimagined the Women’s Networking Event for an afternoon networking and speaker session, and the committee added a 35 and Under session to bring together more of the younger attendees into the conversation to help build new connections across the industry.

Add in goat yoga, golf lessons, cooking classes, opening and closing parties, and plenty of other activities, and people may start to wonder if they even need a hotel room. The SWIPE team suggests you get one anyway, especially since the JW Marriott’s newly designed rooms are beautiful, comfortable, and a good place to store all of the great takeaways from SWIPE.

“We look forward to seeing you in January. Bring plenty of business cards — you’re going to need them,” says Lance Jungmeyer, FPAA President.

MONTEREY, CA - The Organic Grower Summit (OGS), presented by Farm Progress, is proud to announce Thaddeus Barsotti, founder of Capay Organic and former Grower of the Year, as the opening keynote speaker for OGS26, taking place Dec. 2-3, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California.

Barsotti, a second-generation organic farmer and an influential voice in the organic agriculture movement, will share his journey from growing up on a 1980s organic truck farm to building one of the largest organic direct-to-consumer platforms in the country. His keynote will offer a rare, personal perspective on the evolution of organic farming, the challenges and triumphs of scaling a values-driven business, and what it takes to lead in an industry that's constantly evolving.

“Thaddeus Barsotti represents the very best of what organic agriculture stands for—innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to sustainable farming,” said Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress senior national events director, in the recent release. “His story is one that every grower, retailer and industry professional needs to hear. We're honored to have him open OGS26 and set the tone for two days of meaningful conversation and collaboration."

A Legacy Rooted in Organic Agriculture

Born and raised on an organic farm in California's Capay Valley, Barsotti has spent his entire life immersed in organic agriculture. He is the founder of Farm Fresh To You, which became the largest organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program in the United States before being acquired in 2020. Today, he continues to operate Capay Organic, a medium-to-large-scale organic produce farm, and he serves as Chairman of the Board for CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers), one of the nation's leading organic certification and advocacy organizations.

Barsotti is also a recently published author, having written a compelling memoir, Betting on the Farm: An Heirloom Childhood, about his experiences growing up on an organic farm and being part of the organic farming movement from its earliest days. His work as a farmer, entrepreneur, and advocate has made him a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the organic community.

As a previous OGS Grower of the Year, Barsotti's return to the Organic Grower Summit stage is a full-circle moment—one that underscores the event's role as a gathering place for the industry's most innovative and impactful leaders.

In addition to Barsotti's keynote address, OGS26 will deliver an immersive experience designed to connect, educate, and inspire the organic community. The summit will introduce an exclusive Farm Progress AGTech Reception & Field Demos at Reservoir Farms, an offsite evening networking event featuring live field demonstrations of the latest innovations in organic agriculture technology, sponsored by Reservoir, John Deere and Western Growers Association. A new Retailer Panel Discussion will bring together industry experts to share critical insights on product quality, consistency, pricing, packaging, and sustainability. Adding to the excitement, This Week in Agribusiness will be filming live on-site, hosting their weekly episode and engaging attendees while spotlighting the innovations and stories shaping the future of organic farming.

The summit will also feature educational sessions covering sustainable practices, emerging technologies, soil health strategies, integrated pest management (IPM), and market trends, alongside an enhanced indoor and outdoor trade show with live presentations of next-generation organic farming innovations. The prestigious Grower of the Year Award, sponsored by John Deere, will recognize four finalists for excellence in organic growing practices, with one ultimately being named Grower of the Year. Nominations close Aug. 31, 2026.

2026 Registration

The Full 2-Day Pass delivers the summit's most comprehensive experience:

• Complete access to all educational sessions and networking events
• Meals including breakfasts, lunches, and coffee breaks
• Entry to the opening general session and the retailer panel
• Transportation and entry to the Farm Progress AGTech Reception & Field Demos at Reservoir Farms
• Attendance at the Grower of the Year awards ceremony
• Full access to the tradeshow featuring leading-edge organic solutions

For those with limited schedules, single-day passes are available and include all activities scheduled for the selected day. Complete registration details and package options can be viewed online at www.OrganicGrowerSummit.com.

Registration is now open for all organic industry and allied trades professionals, including growers, consultants, and inspectors.