NYPS Keynote Breakfast Highlights Leadership, Recognition and Consumer Insight

Fresh produce industry excellence spotlighted prior to trade show opening.

 A who’s who of fresh produce industry leaders filled the ballroom at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the New York Produce Show’s (NYPS) opening Keynote Breakfast, Dec. 3, where awards, recognition, and consumer insight were delivered before the show floor officially opened. Ken Whitacre, chief executive of the show, president and chief executive of Phoenix Media Network, and publisher of Produce Business, emceed the breakfast program, which set the tone for the day ahead by honoring industry achievement.

South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, architect of the Certified SC Grown program, opened the program with a rendition of the national anthem. The standing ovation matched the applause Weathers later received when presented with the Produce Business Lifetime Achievement Award.

INDUSTRY AWARDS

Whitacre presented the Produce Business 2025 Merchandiser of the Year Award to Thomas Cingari Jr., vice president of produce and floral at Cingari Family Markets, a 12-store chain headquartered in Stamford, CT. Known for his disciplined approach to store design and execution, Cingari was recognized for elevating produce merchandising through upgraded fixtures, thoughtful flow, and displays that reinforce freshness and value.

“I am honored and humbled to have received this award,” Cingari said. “The real honor is being able to share this with my team of produce managers. Thank you to the entire Wakefern produce division, who work every day to provide us with the resources to put our passion to work.”

Giorgio Fresh received the 2025 Joe Nucci Award for Product Innovation for its Grill Packs. The value-added mushroom line stood out among a competitive field of finalists for delivering convenience, flavor, and versatility at a time when shoppers continue to prioritize easy meal solutions.

“Across all our value-added products, innovation is at the forefront,” said Bryan Shelton, vice president of sales and marketing at the Blandon, PA-based grower. “Our goal is to connect consumers with healthy, quick meal solutions that deliver both nutritional benefits and craveable flavor.”

Giorgio’s Grill Packs feature fresh, sliced mushrooms in three seasoned varieties — Steak Seasoning, Smokey Honey Habanero and Brown Sugar Bourbon — packaged in a grill- and oven-ready aluminum tray, reinforcing the brand’s focus on ease of use without sacrificing quality.

GLOBAL SALUTE

The Produce Business Global Marketing Innovation Award recognized Australia’s “Fruit and Veggies Yummy Yummy” campaign, created in partnership with The Wiggles, a globally popular Australian children’s music group formed in 1991. Accepted by Belinda Wilson, managing director of IFPA Australia and New Zealand, the award honored a rare whole-of-industry initiative designed to make fruit and vegetable consumption fun and relevant for children.

“To win this prestigious award in such a setting is an incredible honor and a wonderful surprise,” Wilson said. “It’s recognition for the efforts of the entire fresh produce industry that works to put healthy, safe fresh produce on our tables every day, and it provides a platform to impact fresh produce consumption around the world positively.”

The multimedia campaign blends digital, social, and live experiences, using familiar music and characters to build positive associations with fresh produce at an early age.

NEXTGEN EMPHASIS

The breakfast also spotlighted the Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Class of 2025, recognizing 18 emerging produce professionals completing the yearlong program. Participants were acknowledged for their commitment to professional growth through classroom learning, facility tours and hands-on leadership development.

“Our dual-medium learning environment provides occasions for participants to grow and gain valuable knowledge from experiences both in the field and in the classroom,” said Susan McAleavey Sarlund, EPC executive director. “We look forward to working with this great group of individuals and seeing the impact they will make across the industry.”

The year-long class concluded its program at NYPS, reinforcing the show’s role as both a marketplace and an educational hub for the next generation of industry leaders.

The program closed with a keynote from David and Jonah Stillman of GenGuru, a father-and-son duo who examined how generational experiences shape consumer behavior, from Baby Boomers through Gen Z. Drawing on national research and real-world examples, the Stillmans unpacked how values such as price sensitivity, trust, digital fluency and social purpose differ across age groups, and why those differences matter at retail.

For produce marketers and retailers, the takeaway was clear: Today’s shopper is not one-size-fits-all — whether it’s Boomers prioritizing quality and health, Millennials balancing convenience and values, or Gen Z seeking authenticity and discovery. Understanding the lens through which each generation views food can help drive stronger connections and long-term category growth.

Taken together, the NYPS Keynote Breakfast reinforced a familiar message with renewed urgency: Celebrating excellence, investing in leadership, and understanding the evolving consumer are not separate goals, but interconnected pillars shaping the future of fresh produce.

The keynote breakfast was part of the NYPS. The one-day trade show and three co-located events were Dec. 2-4. The New York Produce Show is organized by Produce Business and the Eastern Produce Council.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mark your calendar for next year’s New York Produce Show and Conference: Dec. 2-4, 2026.

Exhibitors, book your booth now, as there’s limited time to maintain the current booth rate. Visit www.nyproduceshow.com/exhibit2026 or talk to your sales representative before Jan. 16, 2026, to lock in the 2025 rate!