More Buyers From More Markets: IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show Wraps in Orlando
October 17, 2026 | 4 min to read
ORLANDO, FL – The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) closed its 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, Florida. Over three days, the global fresh produce and floral supply chain came together at the annual show to do business, share solutions and prepare for what comes next. This year was the show’s first midweek (Wednesday–Friday) schedule, a change made because members asked for it.
“This week showed what our industry can do when it shows up for one another, particularly after the challenges we’ve faced in 2026,” said IFPA CEO Cathy Burns. “Buyers and sellers from around the world gathered to work through the issues that affect everyone in fresh, from food safety and trade to sustainability and increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Our members came to Orlando to grow their business and left with the connections, insights and tools to keep doing that all year as we fight for fresh together in the years to come. It was a fantastic show and thank you to everyone who invested their time and energy with us this week!”
The show brought together more buyers from more global markets than ever before, with a 10% increase in participation from retailers outside of the US. Attendees from almost 70 countries and around more than 400 retail and wholesale banners attended, creating a buyer-to-attendee ratio of almost 1:9. Buyers met more than 1,050 exhibiting companies on an Expo floor that ran from produce and floral to complementary items and business solutions.
Exhibitors and members got more than floor traffic. Curated tours took buyers straight to solution providers. These included the new Fresh Supply Chain of the Future Tour, the Regenerative Agriculture Tour and Ag Attaché tours of key production regions. In the Innovation Hub, first-time exhibitors and the Fresh Ideas Showcase sat next to the Food Safety & Tech X-Change, where experts covered practical topics from traceability to food safety science.
In her State of the Industry address, IFPA CEO Cathy Burns called on the industry to meet disruption with deeper collaboration, stronger advocacy and practical solutions. She noted that the industry’s biggest challenges rise or fall together. Themes that carried across the general sessions, the Education Festival and the Expo floor included:
- Rebuilding consumer trust through food safety, traceability and prevention-focused standards
- Protecting year-round supply through trade, labor and smart policy
- Sustainability and packaging, including workable approaches to Extended Producer Responsibility and $5 million in grants secured for IFPA’s Packaging Innovation Program
- Putting AI to work for members, including expanded food safety and consumer insights in the Global Intelligence Engine
- Making fruits, vegetables and flowers central to health strategy
On the final day of the show, IFPA announced the winners of the Expo Awards:
- Best First-Time Exhibitor: ESU
- Best Island Booth in Produce: Altar Produce
- Best Inline Booth in Produce: North Shore Greenhouses
- Best Island Booth in Floral: Passion Growers
- Best Inline Booth in Floral: Charme Flowers
- Best Island Booth in Complementary Items: Oasis Dates
- Best Inline Booth in Complementary Items: California Walnuts
- Best Island Booth in Business Solutions: Ocean Network Express (ONE)
- Best Inline Booth in Business Solutions: Royal Interpack
From the Fresh Ideas Showcase, which included 235 new innovations:
- Best Sustainable Packaging: Stemilt Growers – Compostable PLU
- Best Product Promo: Offshoot Brands – Baby Beets
“Thank you to our exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers and guests for joining us in Orlando,” said Burns. “And a special thanks to our staff who give so much of their time and passion to help bring this show to life for our members and attendees. We’ll see you next year in Atlanta!”
About the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our members’ prosperity by conducting advocacy, connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to take action with purpose and confidence. IFPA represents member companies from small family businesses to the largest international corporations throughout the global fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.