Coming up this November, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) will be holding its 49th Annual Fall Nogales Fresh Produce Convention and Golf Tournament. Starting Thursday, November 2, and going through Saturday, November 4, the event will be held at the Tubac Golf Resort and will include a myriad of activities, panels, and educational sessions with participants and speakers from all over the industry.
The FPAA Convention is a celebration to kick off another season of fresh produce entering the United States from Mexico through the port of Nogales, a major hub of fresh produce imports. It is also a fantastic opportunity to learn about new and evolving issues in the industry. Rick Stein, Vice President of Fresh Foods at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) will keynote the Thursday educational sessions with a talk on the Power of Produce Study, their annual consumer research that looks at how produce drives excitement in the retail environment.
Some additional highlights of this year's educational sessions include consumer-focused learning and industry innovations such as: JamesMartin’s presentation on Wilson Produce and The Past, Present, and Future of One of the Industries Oldest and Most Influential Companies; a consumer-focused discussion on What Moms Think of Mexican Produce, presented by Lori Taylor, aka The Produce Mom; and Robert Lambert talking about the “WOW” in innovations in the fresh produce industry.
Attendees will also learn the latest on NAFTA renegotiations from participants on the NAFTA panel discussion. With authorities from the US, Mexico, and Canada locked in discussions on what the future holds for trade in North America, the FPAA has put together a panel of members with roots deep in the produce industry to discuss what they would like to see going forward with the renegotiation of NAFTA.
The party starts on Thursday evening at 6pm in the ballroom and outdoor area with the Opening Fiesta. Here everyone will have a chance to mingle and unwind after a long day of educational seminars. The fun continues Friday with helicopter rides over the warehouse district, the Mariposa Port of Entry, and the Observatory in the Santa Rita mountains.
This year also marks the second annual Mexican Produce Culinary Showcase held in conjunction with the Convention. Last year the FPAA and Mexican Consulate of Nogales, Arizona put together a showcase of artistic and flavorful culinary masterpieces from cooking schools and chefs in the region. The event was a favorite with attendees and the community at large. On Friday, November 3, the Showcase returns with even more unique creations put together by teams of chefs featuring an incredible variety of Mexican produce. The vibrantly colorful display should be as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste buds.
Later that evening will be the FPAA’s Gala event and “Pillars of the FPAA” awards ceremony where recognition will be given to those who have volunteered their time and effort to the industry as well as demonstrated innovation and integrity throughout their career. Along with the ceremony, the gala will feature an elegant sit-down dinner, dancing entertainment, and the Salad Bar Program presentation during which a local school is chosen to receive a complete salad bar on behalf of the FPAA.
The first round of the golf tournament will begin at 9am on Friday at the Tubac Golf resort and conclude at 3pm. On Saturday, participants will head north to Canoa Ranch in Green Valley for the second half of the tournament. The weekend wraps up with a lunch and award presentation immediately following the conclusion of round two of the Golf Tournament.
Contact:
Emmis Yubeta
FPAA
Tel: (520) 287-2707