Veggies From Mexico Participates in The Mexico Conference 2026
The city of Guadalajara hosted the IFPA Mexico Conference, one of the most important events for the fruit and vegetable industry in North America. The event brought together growers, exporters, buyers, business leaders, and industry specialists to discuss the major challenges and opportunities the industry is currently facing.
The program addressed key subjects such as consumption and nutrition, market trends, technological innovation, logistics, labor, sustainability, AI, and the trade relationship between Mexico, the United States, and Canada under the framework of the USMCA.
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One of the highlights of the event was the participation of Cathy Burns, IFPA CEO, who delivered a dynamic and deeply inspiring presentation that literally kept the audience at the edge of their seats. Burns talked about current tariffs and trade pressures, as well as their potential sociopolitical consequences. She also shared with us the huge responsibility of the industry to promote a better nutrition by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, with IFPA serving as a strong advocate before decision-makers in the U.S. federal government. IFPA works daily to promote campaigns, alliances, and strategies to strengthen this goal across North America. Similarly, she highlighted how AI is already transforming the horticultural sector and how and how IFPA has started integrating specialized AI tools into its own platform to support growers and companies in the industry.
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Another lecture of great interest was the conference by PhD. Juan Carlos Baker, CEO & Founding Partner of Ansley Consultores Internacionales, entitled “USMCA and Fresh Products: Current Realities, Future Risks, and Regional Impact.” Baker shared a clear and strategic analysis of the current trade scenario between Mexico, the United States, and Canada, addressing subjects related to international trade, political tensions, regulatory risks, and the tremendous role played by Mexico in the food security of North America. His presentation made it clear that, although there are significant global challenges, Mexico will remain a crucial strategic partner in supplying fresh fruits and vegetables.
Representing Veggies From Mexico, our CEO Georgius Gotsis participated in a panel alongside Miguel Curiel, Mexico VP of Operations and General Manager at Driscoll’s. The discussion focused on current challenges in agricultural labor, automation, productivity, training, and the adoption of new technologies within the berry and fresh produce industry. The discussion helped ground global subjects in the daily reality of farming operations in Mexico, highlighting the importance of balancing innovation, productivity, and the human factor.
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Without a doubt, the IFPA Mexico Conference has established itself as a strategic location where the industry not only analyzes the challenges of today but also builds the vision for the future of fresh food production in North America.
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