Global Produce & Floral Show Delivers Fresh Food and Flowers to Central Florida Communities
November 5, 2026 | 3 min to read
WASHINGTON – International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) donated 230,752 pounds of fresh produce and 42,000 pounds of flowers and plants to communities across Central Florida, thanks to the generosity of exhibitors at the 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show. The show ran October 14–16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The produce donation, rescued in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, is enough to provide 192,293 meals to neighbors in need.
The annual show brings together exhibitors from across the global produce and floral supply chain. Since 1983, it has partnered with food banks in the Feeding America network in each host city to make sure fresh product from the expo floor reaches the communities that host the event.
Cathy Burns, IFPA CEO, remarked: “We are deeply grateful for our long-standing partnership with Second Harvest and the food banks across the Feeding America network, who do incredible work helping those in need in communities through the city that hosts our show. This year, this donation is our way of saying thank you to Orlando and its surrounding communities as the fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers so generously donated by our exhibitors will find their way into the tables and homes of families long after the expo floor closes.”
When the show closed, 102 Second Harvest volunteers and about 24 staff members moved onto the expo floor to glean, pack and transport the donated produce. In just a few hours, the team loaded 25 trailers and four straight trucks for distribution across the region.
“Access to fresh, nutritious food is essential to the health and well-being of our neighbors,” said Bill Collins, chief operating officer, of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. “This generous donation from the International Floral and Produce Association will help us provide more families with the fresh food they need to thrive. We’re grateful to the association and its conference participants for turning their industry’s generosity into a meaningful impact for the Central Florida community.”
The floral donation filled 180 pallets with bouquets, loose stems, potted plants and outdoor plants. Over three days of pickups, about 70 vehicle loads went to more than 40 local organizations, from box trucks to family cars. By Sunday afternoon, all live plants had been claimed and very little product was left.
The flowers and plants went to organizations across Orange, Seminole and the surrounding counties. Food pantries shared them with clients during grocery distributions. Senior centers, nursing homes and veterans’ care facilities delivered them to residents. Foster care organizations used them to support volunteer host families and children in crisis. Schools serving special needs students and Title I families brought them into classrooms and gardens. Partners also used the donation for affordable housing builds, community edible landscapes, wildlife and animal rescue fundraising, and staff wellness programs at local public health offices.
IFPA member That Flower Feeling also collected a truckload of floral bouquets from the show floor to spread the joy of flowers in the community.
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.