NY Produce Show 2025: Bringing Fresh Energy Back to New York

Published: December 9, 2025

The New York Produce Show & Conference was held between Dec. 2 and 4 in Manhattan, New York. (Image: May Song/Vision Times)

By May Song

The New York Produce Show & Conference returns to Manhattan in December 2025, marking its 15th year as one of the East Coast’s most influential fresh-produce events. The show brings together the entire supply chain—from growers and importers to retailers and foodservice—offering a rare and concentrated look at the forces shaping the produce industry.

📍 NY Produce Show dates and location

The 2025 show took place from Dec. 2–4 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Across three days, attendees enjoyed a dynamic mix of exhibitions, expert sessions, networking forums, and industry tours.

🌍 Global trade symposium: A worldwide conversation

The show began on Dec. 2 with the Global Trade Symposium, a focused gathering of international growers, importers, exporters, and trade leaders. The program featured sessions on the 2026 global market outlook, the influence of politics and trade policy, ongoing transportation and logistics challenges, seed and varietal innovation, and the marketing of imports and exports. Bringing together speakers from major associations and industry organizations, the Symposium offered one of the most substantive annual discussions on the future of global produce trade.

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The Symposium offered one of the most substantive annual discussions on the future of global produce trade. (Image: May Song/Vision Times)

🌱 Foundational excellence program: Developing future leaders

Also on Dec. 2 was the Foundational Excellence Program, designed for early-career professionals.

Through fast-paced classes and mentorship, participants gained a clearer understanding of the produce industry’s core functions—from food safety to merchandising to logistics.

Many of today’s rising buyers and category managers began their industry journey here.

🍎 The main trade show

Dec. 3 was the centerpiece of the entire event.

Over 300 exhibitors showcased fresh produce, new varieties, packaging innovations, cold-chain solutions, merchandising tools, and sourcing programs.

The day featured:

Opening keynote breakfast
Ribbon-cutting ceremony
Buyer-Connect and media meetings
Industry Insights mini-sessions
Live chef demonstrations

The show floor is known for its high energy: retailers, distributors, wholesalers, and global suppliers all converge to preview trends and plan for the year ahead.

🍽️ Foodservice forum: The role of produce in modern dining

The show continued on Dec. 4 with the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum, focusing on the restaurant and foodservice sector.

Key topics include produce-forward menu development, plant-based trends, supply-chain transparency, nutrition, and purchasing strategies for commercial kitchens.

It offers a deep look at how consumer dining shifts are influencing the produce category.

Conference goers gather at the New York Produce Show & Conference in Manhattan, New York on on Dec. 2 – 4. (Image: May Song/Vision Times)

🚚 Industry tours: Seeing the supply chain up close

The show also offered optional industry tours around New York City’s produce ecosystem.

Participants visited wholesale markets, distribution centers, retailer backrooms, and specialized food operations.

For many attendees, these tours were the most eye-opening part of the event—providing a real-world view of how produce moves through one of the world’s most complex food markets.

🎉 15th anniversary theme: ‘Where passion becomes action’

This year marked the show’s 15th anniversary.

The 2025 theme—“Where Passion Becomes Action”—reflects the event’s mission: transforming ideas and enthusiasm into concrete steps across sourcing, marketing, education, and innovation.

Conference attendees enjoy a number of different presentations at the New York Produce Show & Conference held from Dec. 2 – 4 in Manhattan, New York. (Image: May Song/Vision Times)

🌿 2025 industry trends: What’s shaping the produce landscape

The 2025 produce industry continues to be defined by several powerful shifts. Retailers are leaning more heavily into value-added produce—pre-cut, ready-to-eat, and grab-and-go formats—as consumers balance convenience with health.

Sustainability is no longer a marketing angle but a requirement; buyers increasingly expect transparency in packaging, water use, labor practices, and carbon impact. On the global side, supply-chain diversification remains a priority, with importers expanding sourcing regions to reduce risk from political or climate disruptions.

At the same time, seed innovation is accelerating, bringing new varieties with better flavor, shelf life, and resilience. Altogether, these trends are reshaping how growers produce, how retailers merchandise, and how consumers experience fresh produce in 2025.