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Trade Show: Dec. 3, 2025
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For exhibiting & sponsorship opportunities, please call 212-426-2218 or email us here

GLOBAL TRADE

SYMPOSIUM

The Global Trade Symposium is the annual gathering of international traders of fruits and vegetables. Taking place on the day before The New York Produce Show and Conference, the Global Trade Symposium brings the best minds from around the world to discuss the intricacies of import and export in an ever-challenging world.

Co-located with The New York Produce Show and Conference, The Global Trade Symposium is presented by PRODUCE BUSINESS Magazine and the EASTERN PRODUCE COUNCIL.

NEW YORK  PRODUCE SHOW

Sheraton New York Times Square
Tuesday, December 2, 2025

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Presented by:

2025 Program

The critical strategies and roadmaps importers use to bring the freshest, highest quality produce into the U.S. and Canada – from every corner of the globe.

What will I learn?

This year’s Global Trade Symposium is more important than ever, given the instability and challenges facing every business and operator in the current economic climate. We will focus on two overarching themes: 

  1. How fresh produce businesses and agencies that partner with the U.S. and Canada can leverage new innovations, technology and strong leadership to offset the volatile and uncertain economic climate.
  2. How marketing and merchandising of fresh produce helps sell product globally – with separate sessions on exports and imports. We will be looking for speakers from the Commodity Boards, Associations, such as ASOEX, Avocados from Mexico, Chilean Fresh Fruit Association, and retailers themselves who present those products in store. What is truly unique about what they are doing?

GLOBAL TRADE SYMPOSIUM

2025 AGENDA

MORE UPDATES TO COME

7:30 am

CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

8:15 am

GENERAL SESSION AND WELCOME REMARKS

Ken Whitacre, CEO and Publisher, Produce Business

8:30 am

2026 GLOBAL MARKET OUTLOOK
(PRESENTER TBA)

A sweeping breakdown of current trends in the international trade of fruits and vegetables – including consumption patterns, commodity changes, trade agreements and emerging technologies impacting supply chains.

9:15am

POLITICS AND PRODUCE, A GLOBAL DISCUSSION

(PANELISTS TBA)
Produce leaders from around the world discuss how the roller-coaster geopolitical landscape is affecting the movement of fresh fruits and vegetables to and from the U.S. Among the questions panelists will field: What is the current state of trade/tariffs/policies in their specific regions? What sectors, commodities or businesses are seeing the biggest impacts? How are businesses trying to offset those impacts? What forward-thinking solutions may ensure stability in the future Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers

10:00 am

NAVIGATING TURBULENCE IN TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS

(PANELISTS TBA)

Preserving the cold chain and ensuring on-time deliveries of fresh produce has never been more challenging – with labor shortages, tariffs, small harvests, weather events and route changes forcing importers to be extremely agile. What strategies are they employing now – and considering in the future – to make supply chains more resilient? How is adoption of AI, automation and the Internet of Things – the interconnected network of communications of sensors and technologies – improving their efforts? Is consumer demand and the quest for year-round and sustainable produce reasonable in this climate?

10:45 am

COFFEE BREAK

11:00 am

THE SEEDS OF CHANGE

(PANELISTS TBA)

A variety of speakers will discuss the creativity behind the seed-to-fork process, from ideation to development to marketing and positioning in stores. What is the next wave of produce or produce products on the horizon? What are retailers clamoring for? What are shoppers demanding?

12:45pm

BUILDING RESILIENCE AT RETAIL

(PANELISTS TBA)

As consumer expectations rise for year-round, convenient and sustainable produce, retailers assess and offer solutions to the impacts tariffs and other disruptors are having on the supply chain. Among the questions they will field: How are they working with international suppliers to ensure availability, traceability and promotion planning? What technologies, automation and AI are they leveraging and how? What merchandising strategies are they employing in stores? Where are the opportunities? How are they balancing consumers’ desire for local with seasonality of fresh produce from abroad? What consumer trends are most front of mind – health/nutrition, flavor, convenience, fresh-cut, sustainability, farm to fork?

12:30 pm

LUNCH

1:15pm

THE MARKETING OF IMPORTS

(PANELISTS TBA)

How produce from other countries is being marketed, promoted and merchandised in the United States and Canada.

2:15pm

THE MARKETING OF EXPORTS

(PANELISTS TBA)

How produce from the United States and Canada is being marketed, promoted and merchandised in other countries.

2:45pm

Program Wrap-Up

GLOBAL TRADE SYMPOSIUM

WE THANK OUR 2024 SPEAKERS

Alejandro Moralejo

CEO

Salix Fruits

Allan Safieh

CEO and Founder

UniSpice

Allison Moore

Executive VP

Fresh Produce Association of the Americas

Ami Ben Dror

Founder and CEO

Dorot Farms and BDA Marketing

Andres Ocampo

CEO

HLB Specialties

Andres Rodriguez

Agricultural Attache of Chile

Anthony Serafino

President

EXP Group

Diego Morales

Sales Manager

D Produce

Ed Fitzgerald

Vice President of Trade Services

Geodis

Felipe Kanacri

General Manager

AM Fresh

George Pitsikoulis

President and CEO

Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers

Giovanni Cavaletto

President

GLC Cerritos

Jean Elie

Assistant Director Business Development

Port Everglades

John Pandol

Director of Special Projects

Pandol Bros.

Leo Holt

President

Holt Logistics

Manuel Alcaino

Chairman

Decofrut

Miles Fraser Jones

VP of New Business Development

Sierra Produce

Peng Liu

President

Orchard Direct

Raquel Espinoza

Director of Sales and Marketing

Produce House

John Ercolani

VP of Operations

J&K Fresh

Gustavo Yentzen

Founder and President

Yentzen Consulting

Miguel Gomez

Professor

Cornell University

Ken Whitacre

CEO

Phoenix Media Network

Ron Lemaire

President

Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Priscilla Lleras

Executive Director

Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association

Sophia McDonald Bennett

Business Dev. Manager & Editor

Phoenix Media Network

Paul White

Founder

GiveGood, LLC

William Watson

President

The Fresh Approach

Tecla Masciarelli

Buyer, Produce

Metro Stores

Robert Schueller

Director of Public Relations

Melissa’s

Erick Carranza Vera

Vice President

EV Produce International

Ruben Ramirez

Country Manager, Mexico

IFPA

Kevin Carroll

Director of Imported Fruit

Fowler Packing

Paul Massey

Director of Business Development

Trucco

Lucio Rainelli

Director of Sales

LGS

GLOBAL TRADE SYMPOSIUM

SPOSNORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Enhance Your New York Produce Show Presence. The New York Produce Show and Conference delivers tremendous opportunity to do more business. Reach the highest level of retail and foodservice buying decision-makers. Sponsorships enhance your exhibitor experience and add more value.

OVERALL SPONSOR (1 Available)

Lead the Global Flow: Sponsor the Global Trade Symposium! Connect your brand to the pulse of international produce trade! Sponsor the prestigious Global Trade Symposium, where the world’s top minds tackle the freshest challenges and opportunities in import/export.

• 3-minute video and/or 3-minute presentation at commencement or after break
• Meter Board at the presentation stage
• Welcome to share branded printed materials with program attendees

BREAKFAST SPONSOR (3 available)

Let them eat and talk about global access to fresh produce!

• 3-minute video and/or 3-minute presentation at commencement or after break
• Meter Board featuring all breakfast sponsors
• Incorporate a fresh produce item in the breakfast

COFFEE BREAK SPONSORS (2 available)

Caffeinate to generate more growth for fresh across the supply chain!

• Branded napkins
• Featured on the sponsor Meter Board at Global Trade Symposium sessions

LUNCHEON SPONSORS (3 available)

Host Global Connectors: Sponsor the GTS Luncheon!

• 3-minute video and/or 3-minute presentation during lunch service
• Meter Board at the presentation stage
• Incorporate a fresh produce item in the luncheon

AUDIO/VISUAL SPONSORS (3 available)

Align your company with all the tech, delivering impactful presentations, and ensuring Global Trade has all the amplification it deserves.

• Dedicated Meter Board identifying your brand as the crucial AV Sponsor

All sponsors receive the following special recognition:

Company logo on signage throughout the Javits Center, in hotel meeting areas, and within the official Show Directory.

Company logo on The New York Produce Show and Conference website’s sponsor page.

Sponsors recognized during opening reception, keynote breakfast and on visual communications throughout the show.

Recognition in Produce Business magazine.

To discuss tailored packages that support your marketing objectives, please contact us here.

Contact Us

Global Trade Symposium
P.O. Box 810425,

Boca RatonFlorida 33481
United States

(561) 994-1118

info@globaltradesymposium.com