72 • July | August 2026 • abasto.com BY VIOLETA MONTES DE OCA T he Texas International Produce As- sociation (TIPA) had record-brea- king attendance for the 2026 Viva Fresh Expo. Now in its 11th year, the event welcomed 2,872 attendees, including 380 retail and foodservice buyers, and featu- red 199 exhibitors, marking the largest turnout in the show’s history. Since its inaugural event in Austin in 2015, Viva Fresh has grown into a premier regional trade show connecting the pro- duce industry across North America. The 2026 edition continued that trajectory, delivering a dynamic mix of networking, education, and business development opportunities. “This year’s record attendance reflects the continued momentum and impor- tance of Viva Fresh as a key platform for the fresh produce supply chain,” said Bret Erickson, executive vice president at Little Bear Produce and current Viva Fresh chairman. “From meaningful bu- yer-supplier connections to high-quali- ty educational programming, the event continues to evolve to meet the needs of the industry.” VIVA FRESH 2026 SETS NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD AT THE HALLWAYS 1. Dante Galeazzi, TIPA president. 2. RCF Distributors. 3. EXP Group. 4. Spring Valley. 5. Idaho Potato Comission. 6. Fresco Produce. 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Continues on page 74 • TRADE SHOWS