Fresh Produce Association of the Americas FPAA

The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is putting the final touches on its 44th Produce Convention and Golf Tournament to be held in Tubac, Arizona.

The convention, which focuses on the Mexico-US fresh produce business, will take place on 8-10 November at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, located just north of Nogales – the largest port of entry for fresh fruits and vegetables arriving in the US from Mexico.

“We are really excited about this year’s event,” said FPAA president, Lance Jungmeyer, in a press release. “We have some great speakers lined up for the educational component.

“Of course with our fantastic weather and our concentration of produce companies for people to network with, the FPAA Produce Convention has been a must on everyone’s calendar for many years.”

The FPAA convention kicks off on Thursday 8 November. Conference sessions include:

• Navigating the New Transportation Landscape: How the new hours of service rules may affect shipments, as well as other emerging transportation trends. Presentations by Jason Craig, manager of Government Affairs, and Gary York, general manager of CH Robinson Worldwide.

• The Nuevo Niche: How to maximise sales at Hispanic-oriented retail chains, particularly in the west of the US. Presentation by Alfonso Cano, assistant produce director at Northgate Gonzalez.

• How to be a Social Media Darling: How to captialise on the power of social media to market your brand or company. Presentation from Dan'l Mackey Almy, president and owner of DMA Solutions, who has developed social media campaigns for a variety of clients, including: Cal Giant, Duda Farm Fresh Foods and Frontera Produce.

Based on attendee feedback, the Gala Event and Pillars of the FPAA award ceremony, which recognises excellence and service to the FPAA and honours individuals who have excelled in the industry, will take place this year on Friday instead of Saturday.