Viva Fresh is launching a health and wellness campaign that will continue until the 2020 Viva Fresh Expo on April 30 – May 2, 2020 at the JW Marriot Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas. Best-selling author, TV personality and physician, Dr. Ian Smith will lead a group of four produce industry professionals who are changing their diets in an effort to become healthier. Industry members can follow their progress online at the Viva Fresh website.
“Since the inception of the Viva Fresh Expo, health and wellness has been one of the main cornerstones of our program,” remarked Dante Galeazzi, President & CEO of Texas International Produce Association (TIPA). “There’s been a global rise in clean eating causing consumers from all age groups to embrace a plant-based diet. But growers are often removed from these trends creating a disconnect with the consumers who are buying their produce. That’s why we’re excited to launch this challenge and use the resulting insight to empower the produce industry to better understand and act upon the clean eating trend.”
Sponsored by SunFed, Grow Farm Texas, Coast Tropical, Rio Fresh Inc. and J&D Produce, the following Clean Eating Challenge participants bring a variety of backgrounds, health challenges, and goals for the program.
- Tommy Wilkins, Grow Farms Texas
- Ed Bertaud, IFCO
- Jed Murray, Tenaza Organics
- Michelle Cortez, Empacadora GAB – Mr. Lucky
During the Clean Eating Challenge, Dr. Smith will be working closely with each of the participants to tailor a plan based on their goals, health challenges and the results of their physicals. As the keynote speaker, Dr. Smith will unveil the final results during the Viva Fresh Keynote Luncheon on Friday, May 1 from 11:30 - 1:00 pm. The participants will join him onstage to share the detail of their experiences.
“This focus on health and wellness really sets Viva Fresh apart from other regional trade shows so we’re looking forward to seeing the results of the Clean Eating Challenge,” remarked Kyle Stevens, Vice President of Produce for H-E-B. “Each year the show brings a new, vibrant energy to the industry and highlights the growing importance of Texas and Mexico in fresh produce.”
Viva Fresh began in 2015 as a small regional tradeshow with the goal of shining a light on the importance of the Rio Grande Valley as an emerging trade corridor and production zone. Now, the show consistently draws sold out crowds, and buyer attendance alone has increased by over 110%.
To register for the Viva Fresh Expo, click here.
For more information: 
Heidi McIntyre
Tel: +1 (407) 222-3695
Email: Heidi@fulltiltmarketing.net
www.vivafreshexpo.com