Viva Fresh Expo 2026 Sets Attendance Record in San Antonio
April 23, 2026 | 4 min to read
San Antonio, Texas – The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) announced record-breaking attendance for the 2026 Viva Fresh Expo. Now in its 11th year, the event welcomed a total of 2,872 attendees, including 380 retail and foodservice buyers, and featured 199 exhibitors, marking the largest turnout in the show’s history.
Since its inaugural event in Austin in 2015, Viva Fresh has grown into a premier regional trade show connecting the produce industry across North America. The 2026 edition continued that trajectory, delivering a dynamic mix of networking, education, and business development opportunities.
“This year’s record attendance reflects the continued momentum and importance of Viva Fresh as a key platform for the fresh produce supply chain,” said Bret Erickson, executive vice president at Little Bear Produce and current Viva Fresh chairman. “From meaningful buyer-supplier connections to high-quality educational programming, the event continues to evolve to meet the needs of the industry.”
The week’s activities included expanded networking opportunities such as the Viva Fresh Open across two golf courses at the TPC San Antonio, as well as the Second Annual Viva Fresh Pickleball Tournament and the first ever Viva Fresh Wine Tasting. These events offer attendees multiple ways to connect outside the exhibit hall. Signature programs such as the In Bloom Women’s Event, the EDGE student program, and the Y-TIPA Young Professionals mixer highlighted the association’s ongoing commitment to leadership development and industry engagement across all career stages.
The educational lineup featured a range of sessions addressing current topical industry issues reflecting on challenges and opportunities, including a session on Consumomics of Fresh Produce led by futurist economist Richard Kottmeyer of FutureBridge. along with Sabrina DeLay. Attendees also heard from keynote speaker Hunter Pinke, whose message of “no more bad days” and mindset shift resonated strongly with participants and set the tone for the weekend.
The Saturday expo brought together 199 exhibiting companies showcasing fresh produce, innovations, and services to a highly engaged audience of buyers and industry professionals and offered unique engagement opportunities in the booths and on the show floor.
With its strongest attendance to date, Viva Fresh 2026 reinforces its role as a must-attend event for the produce industry and underscores the continued growth and vitality of the Texas and Southwest produce sectors.
For more information about Viva Fresh and the Texas International Produce Association, visit www.vivafreshexpo.com
About the Texas International Produce Association
Founded in 1942, the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) promotes, advocates, educates and represents the nearly $13 billion in fresh produce that is either grown in the state or calls Texas the first point of US-arrival for North American distribution. For more information about TIPA, visit www.texipa.org or call 956-581-8632.
About the Viva Fresh Expo
The Viva Fresh Produce Expo was established in 2015 by the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) to create meaningful networking and educational opportunities for its members while shining a light on the importance of the Texas-Mexico trade corridor as a thriving hub for nutritious fruits and vegetables available year-round. The 2027 Viva Fresh Expo will return to the JW Marriott Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas, from April 8 to April 10, 2027. Visit www.vivafreshexpo.com for updates.