Richard Kottmeyer, chief strategy officer and global practice lead for food, agriculture and nutrition at advisory firm FutureBridge, will kick off the education sessions at Viva Fresh 2026 with a dynamic 90-minute session designed to challenge and equip produce industry leaders to think about not just opportunities for today but also for the decade ahead.
Viva Fresh organizers say this session will explore the “consumomics” of fresh produce, examining how shifts in public policy, economic forces, health care priorities and consumer behavior directly impact how fresh produce is sold and merchandised. Rather than reacting to short-term policy swings, attendees will gain a roadmap to future-proof businesses for the next five to 10 years.
Sabrina DeLay, chief of staff to the chief strategy officer and global head of food and agriculture at FutureBridge, will join Kottmeyer at Viva Fresh in San Antonio. Their session will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday, April 17.
“Viva Fresh has always been about delivering meaningful education that moves our industry forward,” says Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association. “Richard will challenge us to think beyond immediate disruption and focus on strategies that position companies for the next decade. This is about staying ahead, not catching up.”
Kottmeyer, an internationally recognized futurist economist, advises CEOs, boards, investors and governments on structural shifts shaping the global food system. With leadership experience spanning investment banking, consulting and high-level advisory roles intersecting food, health care and security, Viva Fresh organizers say he brings a powerful macroeconomic perspective to the produce industry.
DeLay is a seasoned strategic leader with experience spanning global program management and public-sector service, including as a Presidential Management Fellow. Together, Viva Fresh says Kottmeyer and DeLay will chart a forward-thinking roadmap and ignite a conversation that disrupts traditional sales and merchandising practices to uncover innovative economic possibilities.
“The produce industry sits at the intersection of policy, economics and human behavior,” Galeazzi says. “Richard and Sabrina will help leaders connect strategy to execution, translating big-picture shifts into practical decisions that strengthen resilience, competitiveness and long-term growth.”
