Where Top Specialty Crop Leaders Connect
Presented by American Fruit Grower, American Vegetable Grower, and Meister Media Worldwide
Fruit and Vegetable Grower CONNECT convenes senior leaders from the most influential fruit and vegetable growing operations and solution providers across North America for focused, private meetings that foster strategic conversations, unlock opportunity, and move the industry forward.
CURATED CONNECTIONS. STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT. REAL IMPACT.
Exclusive Access
Engage with key industry leaders across influential specialty crop operations and innovative solution providers.
Meaningful Meetings
Pre-matched meetings ensure every onsite session is aligned for relevance to spark actionable ideas and collaboration.
Industry Insights
Gain insight into trends, practical strategies, and solutions driving the next wave of growth in the specialty crop sector.
WHAT PAST PARTICIPANTS HAD TO SAY
Hover over each image to see what past CONNECT participants had to say about their experience.
“The way that that CONNECT is structured provides a lot of value because you’re meeting directly with representatives from companies that understand your operation…and offer real life solutions to help you manage those challenges.”
– Dan Henry, Kreher Family Farms
“The difference between [CONNECT] and a trade show is that you’re having one-on-one connection with suppliers. You get private time with them so you can discuss things outside of a trade show that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to do.”
– Jim Jones, Moonlight Companies
“This is a great way to have a very concentrated experience that’s pre-qualified where you can really invest a couple days and come away with knowledge that is going to help the operation and help us move forward with better products and vendors. ”
-Timothee Sallin, IMG Enterprises
“[CONNECT] is a very positive way to interact with growers and learn details about their systems and how we can work with them. And for our product, since we’re not commercialized yet, it would be an opportunity to set up trials with some very important growers.”
-Carl Bannon, Kula Bio
“[CONNECT] is like there was a matchmaker behind the scenes trying to pick the best match between customer and vendor, and they almost thought about it more than you did.”
-Kevin Teague, Phytech
WHAT THE DATA SAYS
Post-meeting survey results* demonstrate that pre-screened, thoughtfully matched meetings between growers and partners lead to productive discussions, new collaborations, and tangible outcomes.
90%
of meetings created new connections between growers and partners, or helped enhanced existing relationships
92%
of growers indicated a likelihood of implementing the solutions they learned about at CONNECT into their operation
99%
of growers stated that their onsite meetings were a valuable use of their time.
*Source: Post-meeting recap surveys, Fruit and Vegetable Grower CONNECT 2025
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CONNECT
CONNECT is unlike most industry events available today. To help clarify how we can offer such a valuable experience, we’ve provided answers to our most common questions below.
CONNECT is an invitation-only gathering for senior leaders shaping specialty crop growing operations or developing innovative solutions. The event is built to foster peer-to-peer, top-level conversations—covering market trends, long-term collaboration, and strategic alignment that can directly inform future partnerships.
Invitations to growers are based on an operation’s size, influence, and level of innovation within the fresh produce industry. We aim to include operations that are actively shaping the sector and helping to move the industry forward.
Business partner companies are selected based on relevance, innovation, and their ability to address the needs of participating grower operations.
To accomplish this, we complete an in-depth profiling process with each grower. After completing a detailed survey, growers are interviewed by our editorial team to discuss their specific operational challenges, growth drivers, and interest or investment across more than two dozen solution categories. This data allows us to identify which solutions are most in demand and focus partner invitations on companies best positioned to deliver meaningful value and productive conversations.
We use a carefully curated matching process that considers each participant’s priorities, interests, and strategic goals.
Growers work with our team to develop comprehensive business profiles outlining their needs, challenges, and objectives. Likewise, we work with business partners to develop profiles highlighting their full range of offerings. During the matching phase, growers review partner profiles and rate their interest in meeting, while partners review grower profiles and assess relevance. Meetings are scheduled only where there is mutual interest, ensuring every meeting is intentional, relevant, and positioned for meaningful collaboration.
The number of onsite meetings is determined entirely by the matching process. Most participants engage in at least six meetings, with the opportunity to have up to twelve, depending on mutual interest identified during the matching process.
No. Meetings are only scheduled where there is mutual interest. While participants may engage with others during networking events, all private meetings are curated to ensure relevance for both parties.
Participants include senior leadership from top fruit and vegetable growing operations and innovative solution providers across North America. While the mix varies each year, the group is intentionally curated to support strategic discussions, meaningful partnerships, and exposure to emerging trends.
Participants arrive on Monday morning. The afternoon begins with a grower-only roundtable discussion, providing a private forum for growers to share insights on common challenges, market dynamics, and industry trends. During this time, business partners participate in a networking happy hour with fellow solution providers. A welcome reception then brings all attendees together for informal introductions ahead of the event.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, participants gather for breakfast before attending pre-scheduled meetings. Dedicated hosts escort growers to meetings held in partner meeting suites. Lunches are shared, followed by additional afternoon meetings, and each day concludes with networking receptions and dinner. Participants depart Thursday morning.
Matched participants are introduced via email approximately three weeks prior to the event. This time is used to refine interest, align priorities, and set discussion agendas. Partners use this information to prepare highly personalized, operation-specific presentations.
Each onsite meeting lasts 50 minutes, and all of the pre-event preparation allows participants to dive directly into meaningful discussions. Following each meeting, hosts conduct a brief recap survey capturing key insights, including relevance, potential timelines, technologies discussed, and likelihood of moving forward. This information is compiled and shared post-event.
After the event, participants receive a detailed PDF report containing recap survey data from each of their meetings. For the following year, a member of the CONNECT team checks in quarterly to help ensure follow-up conversations, trials, site visits, and next steps continue to progress as discussed.
CONNECT is intentionally designed around depth, not scale. Unlike traditional trade shows or conferences that prioritize broad exposure and large audiences, this event focuses on curated, peer-level engagement.
Rather than navigating exhibit halls or attending back-to-back presentations, participants engage in pre-matched, private meetings with senior leaders who have already expressed mutual interest. The result is fewer, more relevant conversations—supported by structured preparation, facilitated introductions, and post-event follow-up—designed to drive meaningful progress long after the event concludes.
No. To maintain a balanced and dynamic event, we aim to maintain a 50/50 mix of new and returning participants. This approach ensures that year brings fresh perspectives, new opportunities, and opportunities for meaningful connections.
A LEGACY OF INDUSTRY LEADERS
Fruit and Vegetable Grower CONNECT has welcomed senior leaders from many of the most respected growing operations and solution providers in North America—organizations that continue to shape the future of the industry.
Amanda Kundert
Program Lead, CONNECT Events
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?
Send us a message to learn more about this exclusive, invitation-only event:
JOIN US IN PHOENIX, AZ
This year, we’re convening at The Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center. Our newly renovated venue offers a variety of amenities and activities, all set against a warm, relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for making new connections.