SAN ANTONIO — Setting a new record for growth in the heart of Texas, the 2026 Viva Fresh Expo hit a major milestone with a total of 2,877 attendees — the highest turnout in the show's history. With a sold-out floor featuring 199 exhibitors and nearly 400 key retail and foodservice buyers, the event solidified its status as a powerhouse hub for the produce industry.
Energy was high on the show floor, where the true bounty of the Tex-Mex corridor was on full display.
Giumarra Cos. featured an array of fresh produce including Mexican grapes, SugarWild jumbo blueberries and blackberries, soon-to-arrive DulceVida Nectarines and its Nature's Partner premium avocados in two different packaging options — one featuring a morning smoothie recipe and another with a compelling retro feel.
“There's romance to it,” says Kristina Lorusso. “It's got a Coachella vibe to it, and retailers love it. It really pops in the department.”
Giumarra also highlighted its new partnership with Horton Fruit Co., which will now offer a range of Giumarra's specialties from its operations in Louisville, Ky., and Dallas.
“Horton Fruit Co. is adding Giumarra items to their list of offerings, which will help with availability heartaches in the retail supply chain,” says Lorusso.
Tommy Wilkins of Horton Fruit Co. is equally excited by the partnership with Giumarra Cos.
“We ask our customers, ‘Where's your heartburn, and how can we help?' Giumarra has all of these boutique items that are in demand. We can offer logistical help and be a solution to get better product into stores,” he says.
Sustainable avocado farming was the main event at the GLC Cerritos booth, where Giovanni Cavaletto showcased the company's annual sustainability report. The report highlights the company's many efforts on the sustainability front from its water-saving initiatives to pollination to reforestation and more. The company is GlobalG.A.P., Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade-certified.
In terms of avocado sourcing, Cavaletto says fruit from Guatemala and Ecuador are next on the horizon.
And GLC Cerritos touted its series of short videos that give customers a look at what's going on in the market and on the farm.
Sustainability was also a hot topic at IFCO, which showcased its Reusable Packaging Containers.
“The sustainable message has never been bigger,” says Bryan Tate. “More and more people care about it every year.”
Tate says while the packaging space got confusing for a while, he's seeing more pull from retailers now who are looking for a true end-to-end partnership with IFCO. And as retailers increasingly turn to automation, Tate says IFCO's standardized RPC footprint, as well as the digital capabilities its adding, play well in automated operations.
North Bay Produce's Sarah Quackenbush showed off its Reserve Blackberries that are coming into peak volume and flavor out of Mexico, as well as its “humungous” jumbo blueberries.
“The jumbo berry market has grown a ton in the past couple of years,” she says. “There's huge opportunity with bigger berries, and consumers are willing to pay more for them.”
La Bonanza Avocados, a family-owned avocado grower from Uruapan, Mexico, showcased its sustainably sourced hass avocados and avocado products. As a key hub of Mexico's avocado-growing region, Uruapan is known as the “Avocado Capital of the World,” says La Bonanza.
Divine Flavor featured Mexican table grapes, including Cotton Candy grapes out of Jalisco that are available through July, as well as a new crop of roma tomatoes from Baja, mini peppers and new organic cherry tomatoes on the vine.
Splendid, a company of growers and exporters based north of Sinaloa, Mexico, featured mangoes, sweet corn, green beans, bell peppers and more.
“We foresee a great season,” says Eduardo Diaz.
John Pandol of Pandol Bros. says grapes from California and Mexico are coming early this year. And while conditions are “so far, so good” in California with no counter indications, in Mexico — which is further along in its season — “quality is good.”
Courtney Schuster of Rio Fresh, a south Texas-based onion grower-packer-shipper, says the onion season is looking strong and while there was some rain “things are tightening up and so far, quality is great.”
Rio Fresh showcased its Tri-Color organic and conventional red, yellow and white onion packs that are available in different combinations and weights up to 5 pounds.
Index Fresh showcased its California Crema Gem avocados, available from April to June in bags and bulk.
“Gems are more sustainably grown avocados because the trees are planted closer together, they use less water and there's a labor savings as well,” says Kellen Stailey Martin.
The striking avocados have a darker skin with gold flecks and grow to a larger, value size, she says.
“The flavor is a little nuttier and it's easier to scoop,” she adds.
Stailey Martin also touted the company's cellulose packaging for its bagged organic and conventional AvoTerra line. The cellulose bag is made of 100% paper and is recyclable and compostable. It also features a new home-compostable PLU sticker from Sinclair.
Also new are Avoettes organic avocados.
“There's a lot of traction with mini avocados,” says Stailey Martin. “They're single-serve and there's no waste.”
While Index Fresh launched the mini avocados with organic, Stailey Martin says conventional Avoettes are in the works.
Matthews Ridge Farms' Brooke Eldridge says the company's current crop of sweetpotatoes is largely spoken for. She also talked about the rise of the Murasaki sweetpotato.
“The purple market is really growing,” she says. “Retailers are starting to get curious about them. They're colorful and really grab attention in a dish.”
Bay Baby Produce showcased a colorful array of pumpkins and squash, including Day of the Dead pumpkins; a 5-count bag of ornamental pumpkins; pumpkin painting kits; and a new Jack Pack half-pallet display unit that holds up to five different items.
“Jack Pack brings the pumpkin patch to your store,” says Michelle Youngquist of the display units that will be available in September and October.
Baby Baby also featured a host of red, white and blue pumpkins designed to make everything from Labor Day gatherings to celebrating America's 250th anniversary of independence more festive.
