A Primer on the New York Produce Show & Conference

The produce industry is gearing up to converge in Manhattan for the 2025 New York Produce Show & Conference, a three-day event packed with education, networking and commerce designed to position fresh-produce companies for success in 2026. 

From Dec. 2 through 4, attendees will find not just a trade-show floor but a full agenda of conferences, tours and media-rich programming designed for growers, importers, retailers and service providers alike.

The event kicks off on Tuesday, Dec. 2 with two co-located conferences at the Sheraton New York Times Square: The Global Trade Symposium and the Foundational Excellence Program. The Global Trade Symposium brings together importers, exporters and logistics professionals for in-depth discussions on global market outlooks, transportation innovation and trade-policy dynamics. Meanwhile, the Foundational Excellence Program, conducted by academic faculty, offers early-career professionals a one-day immersion into industry trends and strategic frameworks for the produce business. Both tracks set the stage for the high-intensity activity to come and give exhibitors and attendees a chance to calibrate strategies before the main show floor opens.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the trade show takes center stage at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. After registration and a morning set-up window, the Opening Keynote Breakfast officially launches the day. The exposition floor opens with the ribbon-cutting and proceeds through the afternoon with more than 300 exhibitors and buyers interacting across one of North America’s largest single-day produce marketplaces. 

On the floor, attendees will find a variety of experiences beyond static booths: a Buyer-Connect program pairs key buyers with suppliers for targeted meetings; chef demonstrations and interactive sampling areas bring product to life; and the Industry Insights Stage features micro-sessions on category management, organics consumer behavior and broker-retailer relationships. 

Overlaying all this is the invite-only Connect With Fresh Consumer Media & Influencer Luncheon held midday, where consumer media, influencers, dietitians and food writers gather to learn about fresh produce trends and then engage exhibitors on the show floor. The platform underscores the ever-growing importance of storytelling, social media and younger-consumer outreach in the category.

Thursday, Dec. 4 wraps up the event with the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum and a series of industry tours. The Foodservice Forum focuses on how produce fits into culinary-innovation, restaurant menus and foodservice profitability. At the same time, attendees can choose from bus tours of key East-coast wholesale markets, retail operations in Manhattan, the famed Hunts Point Produce Market and the Philadelphia Produce Market. These tours provide context for the earlier conferences and show floor interactions by offering a behind-the-scenes look at fresh-produce routing, distribution and merchandising in major metropolitan markets.

Across all three days, the event offers more than commerce: it provides a structured rhythm for relationship building, product launches and category planning. Networking begins at the Opening Cocktail Reception Monday evening and continues through gala sessions, shuttles between venues, and shared meals on the show floor. Exhibitors often bring entire sales, marketing and supply-chain teams so they can fully engage buyers, showcase innovations and align on promotional strategies for the year ahead.

For retailers, the show is a high-leverage opportunity to engage suppliers, evaluate emerging technologies and explore next-generation initiatives. With consumer patterns shifting—especially among Millennials and Gen Z—retailers and vendors alike will use the show to identify items with bulk-and-bag potential, value-added formats and digital-marketing opportunities. 

In fact, that’s the topic of the keynote, where the father-and-son team of David and Jonah Stillman, co-authors of GenZ @ Work, will talk about the produce behaviors of these generations. 

For exhibitors, timing is critical which makes this show so important. After all, December places the event at a strategic point in the seasonal calendar: the holidays are underway, game-day and winter-meal occasions are in motion, and buyers are already planning Q1 2026 programs. With that urgency comes intensity, and the show delivers a compressed yet high-impact forum to showcase new product lines, sampling campaigns and merchandising strategies. 

Overall, the 2025 New York Produce Show & Conference offers a unique three-day format that blends learning, business and brand storytelling. From the pre-show conferences on Dec. 2 to the trade floor on Dec. 3 and the post-show forum and tours on Dec. 4, the event delivers both depth and access in a single venue. Whether the goal is strengthening buyer relationships, launching new items, connecting to younger consumers or exploring supply-chain innovation, the show provides the infrastructure and audience to make it happen. 

As companies set their sights on 2026, there may be no better place to jump-start strategy, build momentum and engage the full produce ecosystem than in New York this December.

For a complete schedule of events or more information, visit www.nyproduceshow.com.