IFPA Global Show Brings Produce and Floral Industry to Orlando

Fresh produce and floral leaders from around the world will converge at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for the International Fresh Produce Association’s 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show, running Oct. 14-16. Organizers expect more than 20,000 professionals, 1,000 exhibitors and attendees from 70 countries and all 50 states.

Although the formal show begins Wednesday, programming starts Tuesday, Oct. 13, with the Global Study Tour from 8 a.m.-1:20 p.m. Hosted with Sprouts Farmers Market, the separately registered experience will visit FreshPoint Central Florida’s distribution center and Sprouts locations, giving participants a look at warehouse operations, inventory flow, retail execution, merchandising and customer engagement. Tour participants should arrive in Orlando by Monday.

Wednesday opens with a networking breakfast from 8-8:45 a.m. in the Valencia Ballroom, followed from 8:45-10 a.m. by IFPA CEO Cathy Burns’ State of the Industry address. Burns will examine the trends, challenges and opportunities influencing the global produce and floral business.

The Education Festival follows from 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m., with concurrent, fast-paced sessions in rooms W414AB and W414CD. The first block pairs a global-trade discussion moderated by IFPA’s Samantha Ayoub with Marc Evrard of Belgian Fruit Valley and a future-supply-chain session featuring IFPA’s Erik Larsen, GS1 US’ Liz Sertl and Redline Solutions CEO Todd Baggett. At 10:50 a.m., Arjun Chakravarti of Cogknition Analytics will connect economic forces to pricing and sourcing decisions, while iFoodsDS Chief Traceability Officer Andy Kennedy addresses food-safety and traceability updates.

At 11:25 a.m., Rachel Blake of IFPA and Jonna Parker of Circana will look at what shoppers are likely to purchase next. Running opposite it is a packaging session with IFPA sustainability leader Tamara Muruetagoiena and industry executives Jen Doxey, Janis McIntosh and John Paap. The noon block explores strategies for making produce the star with Sprouts’ Sonya Constable, the World Wildlife Fund’s Brent Loken and Food Culture Alliance co-founder Eva Monterrosa; Peter Wilson of FleishmanHillard leads a concurrent discussion on protecting brand reputation in an AI-driven world.

After a 12:30 p.m. networking lunch, “Conversations Shaping the Future of Produce & Floral” runs from 1-2:30 p.m. and brings together Del Monte President and COO Mohammed Abbas, Penta Senior Partner Kevin Madden and Gems Group CEO Carlos Oramas for discussions on advocacy and trade, consumers and demand, and leadership. A Retailer Sponsor VIP Reception follows from 5-6 p.m. at the Hilton Orlando’s Key Largo Lawn and Promenade; a separate ticket is required. The Welcome Reception runs from 6-8 p.m. on the Promenade and requires an All Access Pass or separate registration.

Thursday begins with the Race for a Healthier World 5K from 6-7:30 a.m. on the convention-center campus. A networking breakfast from 8:15-8:35 a.m. precedes the 8:35-9:55 a.m. keynote, “Fighting for What Matters,” featuring former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter and humanitarian Justin Wren. Wren will connect purpose, resilience and service with leadership and global impact.

The expo opens from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday in OCCC West Halls A-C. Its categorized floor separates core produce, floral and complementary products from business solutions spanning retail technology, logistics, sustainable packaging, machinery, and science and technology. In the convention-center lobby, the Fresh Ideas Showcase will spotlight products and services introduced since October 2025, including entries competing for Best Product Promo and Best Sustainable Packaging.

Education moves to the show floor Thursday, with Food Safety & Tech X-Change sessions from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Innovation Hub. Topics include IFPA’s AI-enabled Global Intelligence Engine, FSMA 204 implementation, the business case for AI, IFPA’s sustainability framework, emerging food-safety headlines and packaging compliance and innovation. An Operations Meetup runs from 3:45-4:45 p.m. at the IFPA booth. Badge holders may then attend Community Receptions—Floral, Retail Awards, Advocacy & Food Safety, and Talent—from 5:15-6:45 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.

Friday starts with breakfast from 7:45-8:30 a.m. and the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast from 8:30-9:45 a.m. in the Valencia Ballroom. Rockstar concert pianist, speaker and Jade Media Global CEO Jade Simmons will deliver the “Play Bigger. Lead Bolder.” keynote on purpose-driven leadership and expanding influence.

Friday’s X-Change program runs from 10:30 a.m.-1:55 p.m., covering environmental-monitoring data, supply-chain transformation, automation, rapid testing, digital twins and regenerative agriculture. Two guided floor experiences offer deeper dives: the Regenerative Agriculture Tour runs from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., with participants meeting at the IFPA booth, while the Fresh Supply Chain of the Future Tour runs from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Advance registration is required for the regenerative tour.

Attendees should choose passes carefully: the All Access Pass covers general sessions, the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast, the expo and Welcome Reception, while the Trade Show Only Pass is limited to the exhibit floor. Strollers, wheeled carts, wagons and large wheeled suitcases are prohibited during expo hours. Most official hotels will have shuttle service to the convention center.