ASTA’s Annual Meeting & Exhibits is the flagship gathering for the spice industry, convening every spring to facilitate business, education, and networking among producers, processors, distributors, and industry stakeholders. The 2027 edition runs from April 6‑8, while the 2026 meeting took place April 21‑23 at La Quinta Resort & Club. The event’s format blends keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and a full‑scale exhibit hall where companies showcase new products, technologies, and services. Attendees benefit from direct interaction with peers, suppliers, and regulatory representatives, fostering collaborations that drive market growth.

The conference’s core goals are to keep members informed of market trends, to advance industry best practices, and to influence policy through advocacy. Speakers include seasoned spice producers, culinary experts, government officials, and regulatory specialists. Topics span the entire spice supply chain: from crop reports on Mediterranean parsley, rosemary, basil, bay leaves, oregano, Indian cumin, fennel, coriander, celery, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and Indian chilis, to in‑depth discussions on tariffs, forced labor investigations under USTR Section 301, tariff refunds, and recent Supreme Court tariff decisions. Sessions also address food safety and treatment methods, heavy‑metal contamination prevention, adulteration control, health benefits, sustainability initiatives, and coalition building.

Complementing the in‑person program are ASTA’s Regulatory Workshops, held annually in Washington, D.C. These signature fall events bring the spice community together with policymakers, regulatory experts, and industry leaders to discuss compliance, trade policy, and emerging regulations. The workshops provide a forum for dialogue that shapes the future of the industry’s regulatory landscape.

ASTA also offers a robust crop‑report series, released in alignment with harvest timelines to provide timely market intelligence. These reports are an exclusive membership benefit, offering insights into supply, demand, and pricing dynamics for key spices. In addition, the 2026 Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program (December 4‑24) underscores ASTA’s commitment to analytical excellence, ensuring laboratories worldwide meet rigorous testing standards.

The event calendar is supplemented by a series of webinars on topics such as tariff refunds, forced‑labor investigations, and Supreme Court decisions. These online sessions extend t