Fresh Thinking, New Connections and the Future of Produce: Prophet ERP at IFPA 2026
Tony Zuccato, Shannon Fauconnier, Caroline Valentine and Bryan Barsness (Prophet North America), joined by Jeffrey Li (Valstone Corp)
Three days. More than 20,000 attendees. One incredible industry.
What happens when thousands of produce professionals, innovators and industry leaders from around the world come together in one place?
Fresh ideas, valuable connections, exciting innovations and a shared passion for moving the produce industry forward!
From October 14–16, the Prophet ERP team was in Orlando, Florida, for the 2026 IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show, one of the largest and most influential gatherings of the fresh produce and floral industry in North America.
Hosted by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) at the Orange County Convention Center, this year's event brought together more than 20,000 industry professionals, with over 1,050 exhibiting companies representing nearly 70 countries.
And what an incredible few days it was!
Jeffrey Li (Valstone Corp), Caroline Valentine (Prophet North America), Gisele Silva (Southern Specialties), Tony Zuccato (Prophet North America), and Rod Bernard (Southern Specialties)
Caroline Valentine (Prophet North America), Gisele Silva (Southern Specialties), and Tony Zuccato (Prophet North America)
An Industry That Never Stands Still
Walking the exhibition floor was a reminder of just how diverse, innovative and interconnected the fresh produce industry really is.
From impressive displays of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers to the latest advances in packaging, logistics, automation and technology, there was something happening around every corner.
Growers, packers, shippers, importers, exporters, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, foodservice professionals and technology providers all came together to showcase their products, exchange ideas and explore new opportunities.
Beyond the exhibition floor, the event featured educational sessions, industry discussions and insights into some of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing fresh produce businesses today.
Topics including food safety, traceability, sustainability, supply chain efficiency and emerging technologies highlighted just how quickly our industry continues to evolve.
And right in the middle of it all was Prophet ERP, helping produce businesses prepare for what's next.
Danie Kieviet Jnr (Freshworld), Caroline Valentine (Prophet North America), Lintie Botes (Freshworld), and Shannon Fauconnier (Prophet North America)
Bringing Fresh Thinking to Produce Technology
At Booth 3935, our team had the opportunity to reconnect with existing customers, meet new faces and have some fantastic conversations about the future of produce technology.
Throughout the show, we discussed the everyday challenges facing produce businesses, from managing complex orders and maintaining inventory visibility to improving operational efficiency and making better use of business data.
We also shared some of the exciting developments taking place across Prophet, including our latest AI innovations:
AI Order Entry: Turning incoming orders from emails, messages and other formats into structured orders, reducing manual data entry.
Prophet Pulse AI: Our produce-focused CRM, designed to bring customer relationships, prospects and commercial information together.
Prophet Insights AI: Making business intelligence more accessible by allowing users to ask questions about their data in everyday language.
Together with the power of Prophet ERP, these innovations demonstrate how we're continuing to develop technology that supports the unique demands of the fresh produce industry.
Because when you're working with perishable products, tight margins, changing market conditions and time-sensitive operations, having the right information at the right time makes all the difference.
Prophet ERP team meeting with produce industry professionals at IFPA 2026
More Than an Exhibition
While the technology and impressive displays were certainly highlights, what made IFPA 2026 particularly valuable was the people.
There is something special about bringing so many different parts of the industry together under one roof.
For our team, it was an opportunity to strengthen relationships with customers, hear firsthand about the challenges businesses are facing, and connect with companies looking for new ways to support their operations.
Whether it was catching up with familiar faces, introducing Prophet to potential new customers or exchanging ideas with fellow industry professionals, every conversation offered something valuable.
Events like IFPA remind us that technology is only part of the story. It's the people, partnerships and shared commitment to the industry that drive meaningful progress.
Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast
Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast
Looking Ahead
As IFPA 2026 comes to a close, we're heading home with fresh ideas, new connections and plenty of exciting conversations to continue.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by Booth 3935, took the time to meet our team or shared their experiences with us.
And congratulations to the International Fresh Produce Association for bringing together another fantastic industry event.
We're proud to be part of an industry that continues to innovate, adapt and grow, and we're excited to play our part in helping produce businesses navigate what comes next.
Until next time, IFPA!
Missed Us at the Show?
If we didn't get the chance to connect in Orlando, we'd still love to hear from you.
Discover how Prophet ERP, our produce-specific enterprise resource planning solution, can help bring your operations, information and teams together.
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Modern Software. Built for Produce.
IFPA 2026 exhibition floor featuring fresh produce exhibitors and industry professionals
IFPA 2026 exhibition floor featuring fresh produce exhibitors and industry professionals