Apr 22, 2016

United Fresh forum connects foodservice, produce industries

For the second year, The United Fresh Start Foundation will host The Produce Forum for School Success, a program at United Fresh 2016 to connect produce  companies with K-12 school foodservice buyers. The Produce Forum for School Success  supports the United Fresh Start Foundation’s mission to increase children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables. 

The Urban School Food Alliance, an organization representing foodservice administrators from the nation’s six largest school districts, will once again be present in Chicago where they have coordinated  their summer meeting to coincide with the United Fresh convention for the past two years. They will walk the United Fresh trade show floor and attend The Produce Forum for School Success programming.

The Produce Forum for School Success is sponsored by Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Grimmway Farms, Potatoes USA and Taylor Farms Tennessee. The Fresh Festival for School Foodservice networking reception will be held Tuesday, June 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This year’s programing begins when the school foodservice leaders arrive in Chicago Tuesday, June 21. The Fresh Festival for School Foodservice, a private off-the-trade-show-floor tasting reception will kick off  their two days of engagement with the produce industry.

On Wednesday, June 22, the school foodservice leaders will participate in special programming, which will include a presentation and Q & A session with USDA Deputy Under Secretary, Dr. Katie Wilson, a review of USDA’s “Smart Snacks” standards and how fresh produce can be incorporated into school stores and a la carte lines.

Finally, school foodservice attendees will walk the trade show floor and visit with exhibitors, as well as  attend the education session, “Selling to Schools: Understanding the Needs of the ‘Largest Restaurant’ in Town,” from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. in the Fresh Marketplace Learning Center. Companies interested in learning about school foodservice business and talking with school foodservice attendees are encouraged to attend.

Registration for the Untied Fresh convention and expo is available at www.unitedfreshshow.org. For more information about The Produce Forum for School Success or The Fresh Festival for School Foodservice, contact Andrew Marshall at 202-303-3407.

Opportunities to exhibit at The Fresh Festival for School Foodservice are still available. For more information about these opportunities, visit the Produce Forum for School Success website.