• FOOD INDUSTRY “Taste of the Americas” Breaks Records in Hollywood The NSA Florida trade show brings together more than 3,000 attendees. BY HERNANDO RAMÍREZ-SANTOS rowded aisles, back-to-back bu- Csiness meetings, and buyers with their sights set on year-end purcha- ses. That’s how the “Taste of the Ameri- cas” buying show unfolded on September | 23, hosted by the Florida National Super- market Association (NSA) at the Seminole | 1 | 2 | | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. | | The 2026 edition brought together more | | than 3,000 attendees, including over 1,800 | | buyers and purchasing managers from the | | United States, the Caribbean, and Latin | | America. In addition, more than 300 exhi- | | bitors filled the hall in a single day. | | A Partnership That Pays Off | | This growth stems from the strategic collabo- ration between NSA Florida, Quirch Foods, | 3 | | and Lipari Foods. For Carlos Hernández, a | | member of the NSA Florida board of directors, | | this partnership made all the difference. | | “This partnership has brought in many peo- | | ple from the Caribbean, across the state of Flo- | | rida, and from Central and South America,” | | Hernández explained to Abasto magazine. “I | | think we broke a record this year.” | | Similarly, Francis Rodríguez, president | 4 | of NSA Florida, described the event as “the biggest show we’ve put on in 13 years.” Beyond the Members IN THE HALLWAYS 1. Juan Ramos, Juan I. Ramos, and Marta Santana 5 The trade show is no longer limited to asso- of JMA Import. ciation members. According to Rodríguez, 2. Michael Verdes, Michael Verdes Jr., and Alfredo retailers “from Jacksonville to Homestead” Moreno of Bravo Supermarkets; Alejandro Gon- attended, representing grocery stores, su- zález of One Insurance Services. permarkets, pharmacies, and liquor stores. 3. Luis Rivera, Gabriel Areas, Joanna Padilla, and This broader reach also showed up in Carlos García of Grace La Fe. the offerings, with the wine and spirits ex- 4. Fausto Ortiz, Ulricher Peña, and Peter Negrón of hibition taking center stage. “This is how Goya Foods; Carlos Piche of Café Santo Domingo. we’re expanding,” Rodríguez stated. “We 5. Jerry Hernández, member of the NSA Florida want to make the Taste of the Americas board of directors; Ana Montero and Bill Axelrod Show the best here in Florida.” of Greenland. 6. Julio González and Pedro Salas of Conchita 6 • Continues on page 88 Foods. 86 • November / December 2026• abasto.com