The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) will host the inaugural VIVA Fresh Conference and Expo March 26-28, 2015, at the Hilton Austin in Austin, Texas. The expo will highlight the “Gateway to the Americas,” and will showcase produce grown in the Southwestern United States and Mexico.

The new VIVA Fresh Expo was created to take advantage of the trend to offer more intimate and affordable regional tradeshows that allow vendors and customers to create networking opportunities that highlight products and build relationships. The new show replaces TIPA’s former Texas Produce Convention.

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“We’re incredibly excited to debut this new international conference that will showcase the high quality, variety, and availability of fresh produce from Texas, the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico,” said TIPA President & CEO, Bret Erickson. “Connecting buyers with Southwestern U.S. and Mexican producers is a key objective of VIVA Fresh. The conference committees will work directly with retailers and foodservice companies, who are invited to attend for free, to ensure greater participation.”

Network and education

The expo will focus on networking and education and include virtual field tours at farms and facilities in Texas and Mexico.

TIPA Chairman Dante Galeazzi of Crescent Fruit & Vegetable and the Expo Committee Chair said, “Imported products continue to grow in volume and distribution. We believe that the topics and opportunities we will provide at Viva Fresh as it relates to the growth and expansion of produce from Mexico, transportation issues and upcoming trade regulations specifically for this region will make this conference unique and create the international draw missing from the regional shows available today.”

Along with the education component, the expo will highlight health benefits, style and taste of Southwestern and Mexico-grown produce, with chef-inspired events and receptions with a region-specific foodie flair.

The VIVA Fresh Expo website will launch in August and include detailed information on schedule, registration, sponsorship and exhibiting. For more information, contact Bret Erickson at [email protected].

The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) was created in 1942 to represent the interest of shippers of Texas-grown fruits and vegetables. In 1996, the scope of TIPA was expanded to address the problems and opportunities surrounding the importation and marketing of foreign grown produce. TIPA's member companies include: growers, domestic shippers, import shippers, specialty shippers, distributors, and material and service providers.