FPAA inaugural expo hailed as a success

More than 500 attendees, buyers and exhibitors attended the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas’ inaugural Southwest International Produce Expo.

The event, known as SWIPE, was held Nov. 2-4 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz. The expo was an enhancement of the group's FPAA convention, which just concluded its 54th consecutive year, according to a news release.

Over three days, buyers, growers, distributors and allied industry partners gathered for educational sessions, networking events, an awards reception and multiple outdoor activities, including retail store tours and golf and tennis tournaments.

“We’re very pleased with the success of our first expo, alongside our annual conference, that brought together buyers, sellers, and growers for an elevated experience in the Southwest,” FPAA President Lance Jungmeyer said in the release. “With the richness and diversity of our region and industry on display, SWIPE provided an intimate opportunity for trade partners to come together for quality business development and networking.”

The evening of Nov. 2 kicked off with the Opening Fiesta, a culinary celebration of the bounty and culture of the Southwest. Nov. 3  began with a half-day agenda of education sessions that addressed challenging supply chain topics such as dealing with unforeseen disruptions such as weather, labor and policy; delivering value across customer tiers presented by a panel of industry buyers; and understanding the opportunities for women in the produce industry from those who have excelled in spite of adversity, the release said.

Following the education sessions, the first-ever SWIPE expo opened to a show floor with a 1-to-1 ratio of exhibiting companies to buyers, according to the release.

“As FPAA chairman, the inaugural SWIPE exhibition exceeded my expectations,” Rod Sbragia, vice president of sales for Crown Jewels Produce, said in the release. “From the energy on the show floor, excitement for our Southwest region on display during the networking events, and outdoor activities, it was a pleasure to host the industry for this year's event, and I look forward to next year’s event to be held at the JW Marriott Resort at Starr Pass.”

SWIPE 2023 concluded with both a golf tournament and tennis tournament, where Andy Hamilton and Dave Yeager took first place followed by second-place performers Kyle McGrath and Scott Kosnik, the release said.

In the four-person golf scramble, the first-place team included Jamie Waltmire, Javier Badillo, Alex Parra and Alex Parra Jr.; in second place was Otilio Garavito, Nelson Garza and Jon Greco; and coming in third place was Patrick Mills, Luis Gonzalez, Tony Mitchell and Erick Chistensen.

Rex Lawrence placed first in the inaugural tennis tournament, followed by Santiago Astengo in second place, the release said.

Prior to SWIPE, FPAA held its annual meeting where it honored Emilia Gotsis of Omega Produce Co. as the 2023 Pillar of the Industry, and FPAA Chairwoman-elect Raquel Espinoza of Produce House was named the FPAA 2023 Member of the Year, the release said.

For information about next year's SWIPE, set for Nov. 6-8, 2024, at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa in Tucson, and to secure a place as an exhibitor, contact Emmis Yubeta at emmis@freshfrommexico.com.