Washington, D.C. – The entire supply chain of the vibrant floral and produce industry came together, May 22-23, at The Mexico Conference 2024 in Guadalajara.
An audience of over 460 agribusiness leaders attended the event, including attendees from Mexico, Central America, the U.S., and Canada. IFPA BB #:378962 expressed their appreciation to each participant who made it possible to reunite for this major event in Mexico: sponsors, exhibitors, producers, buyers, exporters, importers, distributors, service providers, media allies, and the industry at large.
In the words of Jose Ferrer, Sr. Director of Produce Sourcing at Walmart, and member of IFPA’s Mexican Council, The Mexico Conference was:
“A highly successful event that brought together the most important players in the Mexican produce industry, all in one place. The primary objectives of this event were to foster business development, provide value information for associates, and create the right environment for discussion on key topics for the produce industry.”
This year, the event’s design was unique in facilitating connection and business with a format that included:
- Learning: The educational sessions delved into industry challenges, the market state in Mexico, new developments in food safety policies and product training programs, climate change and water scarcity, consumer trends, and the future and challenges that will shape the Mexican labor force over the next decade.
- Product and Service Exhibition: Thanks to all the exhibitors who framed the space, filling it with color, flavor, and business opportunities, growing towards a healthier and more sustainable world.
- Connection: The conference brought together and reconnected the entire industry, greeting old and new friends. The Mexico Conference is about creating an ideal environment to stay updated in the industry and find new growth opportunities.
A highlight was the Business Roundtables dynamic, which was very successful in connecting producers with buyers and resulted in over 250 effective business meetings!
Testimonials speak for themselves:
“The Mexico Conference is a unique event in Mexico’s horticultural sector where the main industry players in North America intersect: the Producer, what the farmer needs to produce food (Supplier), and who buys this food, the Retailer. IFPA ensures effectiveness in this intersection with tools like business roundtables, among others, where all participants win.” – Georgius Gotsis, CEO, Veggies From Mexico
“The Mexico Conference was an excellent opportunity to learn more about Mexico’s floral and produce industry. The event provided a vibrant atmosphere for connecting with industry leaders and decision-makers, deepening my understanding of the dynamics and key players of the Mexican produce industry.” – Ron Lemaire, President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
“A great event full of opportunities and trends, but above all, a forum where topics for a more sustainable, connected, and prosperous future in the fresh produce industry were discussed.” – Inés Masallach, CMO, Imalinx Mexico, Member of IFPA’s Mexican Council
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Mexico conference. The content from the speakers was curated perfectly, the schedule worked to promote excellent networking, and the exhibitors had a good variety of products and services that greatly support the needs of growers.” – Nate Montgomery, Director, Produce Champion
“Another year of being sponsors of The Mexico Conference event, each year is a great experience to be present at the most relevant event in the fresh produce industry and to connect with market leaders in a space designed for doing business.” – Raúl López, VP, AgTools, Member of the Mexican Council of IFPA.
The conference proved to be a dynamic space for conversation, interaction, proposals, learning, best practices, and business flows, which is the intent and mission of IFPA, to connect all parts off the supply chain to create a prosperous future for all.
Stay tuned for the announcement of the date for The Mexico Conference 2025!
About the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)?is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our member’s prosperity by conducting advocacy; connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to?take action?with purpose and confidence.
