Now in its sixth year of operation, the Fresno Food Expo has created a reputation as the nation’s only exclusively regional food show celebrating agricultural diversity in the San Joaquin Valley of California — the largest food-producing region in the world.

Industry leaders gathered in early March to announce the expo’s evolution into a standalone 501c6 nonprofit organization under the newly announced oversight of a 13-member board of directors led by top growers and manufacturers, including Denver Schutz of Gerawan Farming, Justin Parnagian of Fowler Packing Co. and Chuck Nichols of Nichols Farms.

Originally planned as an economic development initiative by the city of Fresno in 2011, the expo brings together growers, processors, manufacturers and industry service providers with buyers from around the world. Since its debut, the expo has heightened the awareness of the region’s food production industry and watched new, innovative businesses emerge and new industry collaborations form as a direct result of the show.

The Fresno Food Expo has introduced 226 different food and beverage companies to new customers and hosted 1,825 different qualified buyers, including over 100 strategically recruited international buyers. With this impressive track record, the 2016 expo already has nearly 50 percent of the show floor filled with returning exhibitors.

“It is important that local food producing companies — whether big or small, fresh or finished — stand up and recognize the amazing opportunities that the Fresno Food Expo has to offer,” said Schutz, the technical services manager at Gerawan Farming. “For our company personally, the expo provides a valuable platform to network, make new connections, share ideas and, ultimately, tell our story to the world.”

Unlike any other trade show, the Fresno Food Expo offers the opportunity for local, regional, national and international buyers to connect with the actual presidents and CEOs behind some of the nation’s largest food industry companies, with the invitation to explore products in every category and learn from budding food entrepreneurs who migrate to the region.

“Through the insight of these top food industry leaders over the past five years who have now agreed to sit on our board, the Fresno Food Expo has brought the region together in incredible ways not just as an agricultural community, but as a food community,” said David Nalchajian, general manager of the Fresno Food Expo. “We are excited to build upon our success as a show and we look to forward to further capitalizing on industry successes in every category to increase awareness of our food production industry and celebrate its quality, its diversity, its uniqueness, and its value on both a national and international scale.”  

Innovation stemming from Central California’s San Joaquin Valley will continue to be celebrated through the New Product Awards, which has debuted over 125 new products from San Joaquin Valley-based companies since the showcase began in 2013, launching new trends and concepts. Past products entered into the awards range from new packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables to new varietals that are being introduced to the marketplace. Applications for the 2016 New Product Awards are available to interested companies now and the deadline for submissions is July 1.

The 2016 Fresno Food Expo will take place July 27-28, with site tours and an opening reception for pre-registered buyers, followed by a trade show. To commemorate the evolution of the Fresno Food Expo, a new logo and website have also been introduced.

Registration is currently open for buyers and exhibitors. More than 150 exhibitors and 950 key pre-qualified international and domestic buyers are expected to participate. Noted buyers already registered for the 2016 Fresno Food Expo include Whole Foods, Vallarta Supermarkets, Save Mart Supermarkets, Food 4 Less, Tony’s Fine Foods, JD Food and Saladino’s Foodservice. Registration forms and additional information is available at www.FresnoFoodExpo.com, with public ticket sales to the “Epicurean Evening” event filled with sampling and discovery launching in May.