MISSION, TX - We in the fresh produce industry are often working to optimize international partnerships to better serve our customers and consumers. The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) is one association at the helm of these efforts, and recently had boots on the ground in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to take part in the Gulfood trade show, the Texas Day activities at Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as a USDA trade mission gathering.

Alongside more than a dozen producers representing seven organizations and five industry sectors, Cory Oliver, Senior Category Director of Wonderful Citrus, represented TIPA at the events.

“It was the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to represent the industry and TIPA at the Gulfood expo,” remarked Oliver. “The interest in Texas-grown produce was incredible. It was a constant flow of international buyers asking questions about the season, availability, and offerings. It feels very humbling to be able to introduce Texas fruits and vegetables, especially grapefruit, to the international community, and I can absolutely see why we need to be present in more of these events to capture these opportunities.”

With more than 4,000 companies from 120 countries present, in addition to tens of thousands of buyer attendees, the Gulfood event is one of the largest food and beverage trade shows in the world, a press release stated. TIPA joined a trade mission organized by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to discover potential new sales opportunities in international markets.

Oliver also participated in “Texas Day” on February 17 at Expo 2020 Dubai, the new iteration of the World’s Fair. Geared toward educating buyers, importers, and consumers about Texas agriculture, he spoke before an international audience about Texas-grown fruits and vegetables, especially the Texas Rio Star Red grapefruit.

This activity was funded through TDA’s USDA Agricultural Trade Promotion allocation through the Southern United States Trade Association. The program provides support for agricultural commodities to develop and participate in global trade activities, promoting Texas produce and citrus to trade partners around the world and strengthening exports to our neighbors.

“I was asked a lot about why I would participate in Gulfood, and I read a great quote from the President of Dubai [Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum] that I feel perfectly reflected my mission at the expo: ‘Man’s development depends on the power of his ideas and his ability to spread them from one person to another across deserts, continents, and oceans,’” Oliver said. “If we want to take our products to the international consumers, we have to be able to represent those products, and that means being present at events like Gulfood.”

TIPA will be joining TDA again at the Fruit Logistica event in Berlin, Germany, in early April.

We look forward to all of the fruitful relationships that come forth!

Texas International Produce Association