All agenda items listed below are subject to change.
 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
2:00 PM - 4:30 PMPetco Park Tour

Explore America's #1 Ballpark on one of our daily guided tours. Experience the ballpark as only players and staff do. Led by a tour guide, this historical, behind-the-scenes tour allows guests to experience the ballpark while learning about the history of Petco Park and the San Diego Padres. 

  
2:00 PM - 5:00 PMGaslamp Quarter Food & Drink Tour

Explore San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, the historic heart of America’s Finest City. Experience what makes this neighborhood one of the top destinations for dining, entertainment, and nightlife. This San Diego food tour will uncover the district’s intriguing past. On these tours, you will learn the secrets behind the district’s historic buildings, and travel back in time to when thousands arrived in the port town of San Diego. This popular food and drink tour will not only satisfy your taste buds, but your curiosity, too!

  • A walking history tour of San Diego’s thriving “New Town”
  • Indulge your senses and taste original flavors from 4 participating restaurants
  • Drink samples at 3 of the 4 locations
  • Listen to stories about the scandals of the Stingaree District
  • Learn some of the history that they don’t teach you in a classroom
  • Enjoy enough delicious food for a light meal
  
4:00 PM - 6:30 PMRegistration Open

Registration opens at 4:00pm on Wednesday, November 18

  
5:00 PM - 6:30 PMExhibitor Move In   
6:30 PM - 8:00 PMHappy Hour Welcome

Join us for a cocktail and appetizers to start the conference! 

  
Thursday, November 19, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AMContinental Breakfast & Coffee   
8:00 AM - 5:00 PMRegistration Open   
8:30 AM - 9:10 AMWelcome & Opening Session  Emiliano Escobedo
9:10 AM - 9:35 AMInside the Peruvian Avocado Industry: Production, Seasonality, Market Signals & Opportunities Ahead   
9:35 AM - 10:00 AMInside the Colombian Avocado Industry: Production, Seasonality, Market Signals & Opportunities Ahead  Manuel Michel
10:10 AM - 10:30 AMBreak   
10:15 AM - 10:45 AMAvocados on the Menu: Foodservice Trends, Consumer Cravings and Menu Opportunities Driving Demand  Samantha Biljan-McElheny
10:45 AM - 11:15 AMServing the Next Wave of Avocado Demand: Foodservice Leaders on Menu Growth, Consumer Appeal & What the Industry Must Deliver   
11:15 AM - 11:40 AMInside the California Avocado Industry: Production, Seasonality, Market Signals & Opportunities Ahead  Ken Melban
11:40 AM - 12:05 PMInside the Chilean Avocado Industry: Production, Seasonality, Market Signals & Opportunities Ahead  Francisco Contardo Sfeir
12:30 PM - 3:00 PMLunch & Exhibit Hall Networking   
2:30 PM - 2:55 PMInside the Mexican Avocado Industry: Production, Seasonality, Market Signals & Opportunities Ahead  Luis Javier de la Rocha Zazueta
3:30 PM - 4:15 PMTBD   
5:00 PMEvening at Leisure to Explore San Diego   
Friday, November 20, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AMBreakfast

Sapphire Ballroom

  
8:00 AM - 3:00 PMRegistration Open   
8:30 AM - 9:15 AMAvocados in a Changing World: Global Production Outlook, Trade Flows and the Demand Challenge Ahead  Eric Imbert
9:15 AM - 9:55 AMThe State of the Economy   
9:55 AM - 10:25 AMGrowing Yield and Farm Profitability: Key growing practices and strategies with proven infield success across California growing regions  Daniel Klittich, PhD
10:25 AM - 10:45 AMBreak   
10:45 AM - 11:30 AMProof from the Grove - Growers of Every Size Share Practical Paths to Higher-Yielding Operations  Jason Cole Jim Miller
11:30 AM - 12:00 PMThe Retail Reality Check: How Shoppers, Channels, Merchandising and Fresh Trends Are Reshaping Avocado Growth  Jonna Parker
12:00 PM - 2:30 PMLunch & Expo Open   
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMLeading Through the Avocado Inflection Point: CEO perspectives on the Forces that Will Define the Future of the U.S. Market  John Pawlowski Ricardo Uribe Juan Pablo Cerda Jose Antonio Villaseñor Zurita Percy Muente Kunigami
3:15 PM - 4:00 PMWinning the Produce Aisle: Retail Leaders on the Trends, Expectations & Execution That Drive Avocado Growth   
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM San Diego Bay Sunset Cruise Reception

Close out the conference while networking and enjoying sweeping views of San Diego Bay during a private three-hour yacht cruise aboard the new California Spirit. Just steps from the hotel enjoy this unique evening with food and drinks included. *RSVP and ticket required. Limited capacity.