The New York Produce Show presents many opportunities to meet customers and potential buyers, network with others and learn about new products and trends.

Fruit breeding innovator Sun World International has advice for attendees to use the event as a springboard to make the most of produce partnerships in 2026.

“As Sun World celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, we’re reflecting on how innovation and partnership have defined our journey — and how together, we can shape the next 50 years of fresh produce,” said Jen Sanchez, vice president of marketing at Sun World.

The most successful partnerships are built when science meets story, flavor meets feeling and innovation makes it possible, according to Sun World’s beliefs, Sanchez said.

For NYPS attendees, Sun World has some tips for the show and beyond:

• Seek connections, not just contacts. The strongest retail and licensing relationships go beyond transactions. Look for partners who help connect people through food, who see fruit not just as a product, but as an experience that brings people together. In a world of endless choices, connection is what people remember, Sanchez said.

• Prioritize innovation as an enabler. Innovation isn’t just about genetics or technology. It’s about creating fruit that evokes emotion, drives category growth and redefines what consumers expect from fresh produce, she said. Ask partners how they’re innovating to make your products stand out in a crowded market.

• • Celebrate shared purpose. Seek partners who understand your goals, share your values and are committed to building something bigger than themselves — from sustainable practices to shared marketing investments that elevate entire categories.

• Think beyond the harvest. True innovation extends from breeding to branding to storytelling. When science meets story, that transforms the fruit experience, creating a more flavorful, more memorable and more human connection from farm to table, Sanchez said.

Through five decades of combining breeding science with a global network of growers and licensees, Sun World is expanding flavor in the produce department.

“From Autumncrisp grapes to emerging citrus, mango and cherry programs, Sun World’s breeding team focuses on traits that deliver real value — exceptional flavor, stronger vines, longer shelf life and consistent quality for consumers and retailers alike,” Sanchez said.

Last year, Sun World acquired South Africa-based Biogold Group, a global fruit variety rights manager, giving Sun World access to a citrus portfolio and the world’s largest collection of mango genetics.

With the acquisition, Sun World can bring better-tasting, higher-value fruit to the market faster — a natural extension of 50 years creating highly differentiated grapes, Sanchez said.

“With access to one of the world’s largest mango collections, Sun World can now deliver consistent flavor, color, and postharvest strength — the foundation for consumer-facing variety brands and retail programs, much like grapes,” she said.

Sun World is developing mango varieties that are smoother, less fibrous and more aromatic, aligning with what consumers say they love most about premium mangoes.