MISSION, TX - The fifth annual Viva Fresh Produce Expo, hosted by the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA), is officially open for retail, foodservice, and attendee registration! Held April 25-27, 2019, at the JW Marriot Resort & Spa in San Antonio, the 2019 show is expected to prove everything is truly bigger in Texas, with bigger and better displays, flavors, and an exciting show format.
“We’ve been determined to create a more intimate and relaxed trade show experience which is why we have limited the Expo to 168 booths,” said Dante Galeazzi, President & CEO of Texas International Produce Association. “The Expo has been described by buyers as being ‘more manageable,’ providing access to regional suppliers and growers often not able to exhibit at larger industry Expos, thus expanding vendor options.”
Viva Fresh first began in 2015 as a small regional tradeshow with the goal of showcasing the importance of the Rio Grande Valley as an emerging trade corridor and production zone, according to a press release. Year after year since its inception, the show has drawn sold-out crowds, with buyer attendance alone increasing by over 110 percent.
The upcoming show will include education program sessions in an interactive, engaging format that will cover a wide-range of topics impacting the region and the produce industry as a whole. 2019 will also welcome back the Gateway to Innovation Awards Showcase, which recognizes new products and innovation throughout the Tex-Mex corridor. Throughout the show, chef-inspired dishes featuring produce and flavors from Texas will also be served.
Today, Viva Fresh Expo is focused on connecting this rapidly growing corridor to more retail and foodservice buyers—a key reason why the majority of exhibitors at this show are grower/shippers from Texas and Mexico.
“This Tex-Mex corridor has grown to become one of the most promising and important regions for fresh produce year-round,” said Tony Fisher, Director of Sourcing for Walmart. “Viva Fresh offers a great opportunity to connect, learn, and gain an inside perspective on companies that make this region so successful, which is why I look forward to attending every year.”
Texas is not only a one-stop shop for produce sources throughout North America, it is also a region boasting more than 60 different commodities and almost $1 billion of fresh fruits and vegetables grown within its borders. Since 2007, fruit and vegetable imports coming through Texas have grown a staggering 107 percent, with reports citing more than half of all U.S. produce imports from Mexico are expected to travel through Texas by 2025.
For more information on this flourishing region or to register online for this must-attend event, visit www.VivaFreshExpo.com. Registration, airfare, and hotel expenses are complimentary for qualifying retail and foodservice companies.
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