Featured image: Ray family (Ray Farms, Inc., Glennville, GA) at IFPA show, Front row, Gabe Sapp, Brantley Groover, Grant Sapp, Middle row, Gary Ray, Rhonda Ray, Bridgette Sapp, Patsy Ray, Gavin Sapp, Michael Sapp, Back row, Keith Groover, Whitney Groover, Danny Ray holding Hayden Groover. Gary’s children, Savannah and Nicholas Ray were also at the show but were not present for the picture.
Last week’s convention held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando is bringing in accolades from all quarters, with the consensus one of “what a great time!” for the inaugural Global Produce & Floral Show staged by the International Fresh Produce Association.
While a final attendance number has not been released, attendees have indicated the crowd was ginormous – a well-organized convention with an expansive expo, informative educational and roundtable sessions and multiple networking/socializing opportunities and off-site activities and events in the temperate climate of Orlando, FL.
Some of our Vidalia and Idaho-E. Oregon onion industry friends who were exhibitors this year had very positive responses.
Walt Dasher with G&R Farms in Glennville, GA, exhibiting, told us, “We could not be happier with the outcome of the 2022 IFPA event. We saw nearly all of our customers, both old and new, and had the opportunity to reconnect, laugh, joke and talk business and even make new connections. It’s been one of the best shows in years.”
Walt added, “This is proof we are in industry built on relationships and we needed to shake hands and look each other in the eye. We are already looking ahead to the NY Produce Show, future regional shows and IFPA 2023 in Anaheim.”
Danny Ray with Ray Farms Inc in Glennville, GA, and his family exhibited at the Orlando IFPA this year, and Danny said his family enjoyed the show and felt it was well worth the expense and time spent.
“We took the whole family, and while much of the family enjoyed the Orlando attractions, even our smaller ones said they really enjoyed visiting the booths at the IFPA,” Danny said. “The first day was crowded with people, and the second day was much lighter, but we still got to see many friends in the industry that we don’t often get to visit with, and we also had a chance to network with some of our customers. All in all, it was a great experience!”
From her Vale, OR, office of Onions 52, Tiffany Cruickshank gave us her impression of the show, saying, “The IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show was a resounding success at the Onions 52 booth with great attendance and traffic.”
Tiffany said the one-on-one meetings were especially productive.
“Time spent face-to-face with industry contacts is vital to maintaining and growing business relationships, and our team was excited to be in Orlando after a two-year hiatus,” she said.
Well played, IFPA!
Please check out just a few of the great moments captured with photos of the event. Our thanks to Tiffany Cruickshank with Onions 52, Chris Woo with Owyhee Produce, Danny Ray with Ray Farms, Inc, and others that supplied photos and posted photos on social media that we gathered for the story. Enjoy!
Click images to view and enlarge.
