FPAA Enhances SWIPE 2026 With Broader Networking Opportunities

The Southwest International Produce Expo (SWIPE) is broadening its lineup of nontraditional networking events for its 2026 program, aiming to give produce industry professionals more informal ways to meet and conduct business during the three-day gathering. The expo, produced by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA), will run Jan. 22–24 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson.

Organizers say the expanded activities reflect SWIPE’s goal of making business connections easier and more natural. The event has built a reputation for blending education and trade-floor interaction with outdoor and recreational options that take advantage of the region’s setting. 

Lance Jungmeyer, president of the FPAA, noted the approach is intended to break down the formality often associated with trade events and help attendees establish meaningful contacts. 

“Whether it’s on the green or at the range, we create moments that spark opportunities for fresh partnerships,” Jungmeyer said. “At SWIPE, strong relationships are built on shared experiences that lead to meaningful business relationships.”

A central element of the first day’s programming is the return of Puttapalooza, held alongside the SWIPE Desert Classic Golf Tournament at The Club at Starr Pass. Running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 22, the event is open to all attendees and combines putting challenges, giveaways and casual interactions with participants in the golf tournament. Organizers expect the event to remain a major draw, noting that prizes again will include electronics, branded gear and premium beverage bottles. The putting course serves as a gathering point where buyers, suppliers and service providers can meet as teams rotate through the golf layout.

For attendees staying through the end of the expo, the Desert Clay Shootout on Saturday, Jan. 24, will be held at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club. The activity is designed for smaller-group interaction in a low-pressure setting, allowing participants to spend time with counterparts in a different environment than the exhibit hall or conference rooms. SWIPE is also adding the inaugural Pickleball Paddle Battle and a warehouse tour focused on cross-border produce handling. The warehouse component builds on the event’s regional identity; Nogales, located roughly an hour south of Tucson, is one of the United States’ key entry points for Mexican fresh produce, and FPAA members represent companies heavily involved in that trade.

Beyond the expanded recreational lineup, the 2026 program will continue to include educational sessions, receptions and exhibitor engagement aimed at retailers, importers, shippers and allied industry suppliers. FPAA said the goal is to maintain a mix of traditional business settings and more relaxed, activity-based platforms that give attendees multiple ways to engage. The Starr Pass property, which has hosted SWIPE in recent years, offers a retreat-style environment that supports both types of interaction and has helped the event establish its identity as a regional meeting point for North American produce companies.

SWIPE was launched to highlight the role of the Southwest corridor in the fresh produce supply chain, particularly the significance of Mexican-grown fruits and vegetables entering through Arizona. The expo has grown steadily, drawing interest from retailers and buyers seeking closer ties with importers and distributors serving this segment of the market. FPAA, founded in 1944, represents more than 100 North American companies involved in importing and marketing Mexican fresh produce.

Registration and additional information about the 2026 event are available at www.SWIPEexpo.com