Vote to put produce and floral front and centre at one of the world’s biggest pop culture, tech and film festival SXSW 2023

WASHINGTON, NEWARK, USA:  International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is calling for industry voices to vote for two SXSW Meet Ups that will bring floral and produce to the South By Southwest (SXSW) Conference in March of 2023. Voting closes on August 21.

“We made the promise to the industry to be everywhere people are talking about food and floral, to ensure that our industry has a place at the table,” said Lauren M. Scott, chief strategy officer at IFPA. “SXSW in Austin, Texas is the epicenter of industry and consumer, innovation and culture. We put our mark on SXSW to bring the Joy of Fresh to everyone and no other industry can show up like we can. I can’t wait until we take the festival by storm again next year.”

IFPA has entered to hold two Meet Ups at the event. These are relaxed gatherings meant to bring together industry professionals from a variety of backgrounds to connect around common challenges, topics, and ideas.

• Flower Power Meet Up: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/129019
• Food As Medicine Meet Up: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/127920

“The Meet Ups are a new programme for us at SXSW,” said Scott. “Our goal is to bring together professionals and influencers to understand the power and impact of our industries. SXSW is a great place to uncover new ideas and partners, and we are looking forward to making great connections and inspiring people around produce and floral.”

Voting is open through August 21st.  Anyone can register and vote on the Panel Picker website.

Founded in Austin in 1987, SXSW is held each year and is both conference and festival that brings together tech, film, music industries along with all aspects of culture (especially food and flowers.)  The event draws over 250,000 over 10 days, with a combination of concerts, film screenings, education sessions and keynotes, and expos of the latest technology and innovation.

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. While IFPA is built on the legacy of United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association, it is not just a combination. It is transformational. Recognizing the industry required an even more powerful and unified voice, the leaders of the former United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association chose not to merge, but rather to create an entirely new organization to supersede their organizations, effective January 1, 2022.