October 2, 2024 Washington, D.C. – The Foundation for Fresh Produce BB #:157162 is gearing up for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) – the world’s largest meeting of food, nutrition and dietetics professionals.

The Foundation will leverage its consumer campaign, Have A Plant, to educate and inspire dietitians during multiple exclusive invitation-only events, as well as through its exhibitor booth on the trade show floor. This year’s FNCE will take place October 5-8 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

“Nurturing passionate fruit and vegetable professionals is a priority of The Foundation’s, particularly as consumers continue to seek expert advice when it comes to food choices, health and well-being,” says Katie Calligaro, director, marketing & communications for The Foundation. “Our efforts to promote fruit and vegetable consumption will be incomplete without the active engagement, education, and inspiration of registered dietitians, who advocate for health and the benefits of fruits and vegetables in their daily professional activities.”

For the second year in a row, The Foundation will be nourishing RD’s with donated fresh produce, thanks to Bix/FreshPoint Minnesota, in booth #519 throughout the three-day expo. T-Shirt giveaways and fruit- and veggie-tattoos set the stage and will generate buzz, all while the team is engaging with the dietitians, asking them to join a “Hack-A-Thon,” offering their best fruit- or veggie-hack for use on the Have A Plant® consumer-facing social media channels.

In addition to the expo, staff will attend education sessions focused on the latest food and nutrition science, including Unlocking Opportunities: Dietitians Leading the Food Is Medicine Movement Across Practice Settings, Transforming School Lunches: Strategies for Success and Feeding Soldiers in Complex Environments: Nutrition Interventions at Home Station and Abroad to name a few.

Other “boots on-the-ground” engagement and education opportunities to reach exclusive audiences throughout the five-day show include.

• Friday, October 4th – “FNCE Friday” event, an annual coveted food-centric social soiree, presents an opportunity to network with 100+ media and top-tier nutrition influencers, building excitement for the week’s events.
• Saturday, October 5th – A few will attend an exclusive “Pork & Partners” luncheon hosted by the National Pork Board, a long-time partner of The Foundation’s produce pairings promotions.
• Later that evening, IFPA is sponsoring the School Nutrition Services Dietetic Practice Group Reception from 7-9pm in an effort to develop new and strengthen existing relationships with school nutrition professionals as part of its K-12 programming. There, the team will also re-introduce its K-12 breakfast recipes with minimal added sugar toolkit.
• Sunday, October 6th – Following the Expo exhibit, the team will split for various member and partner events, including a Trivia Night with the Healthy Family Project.
• Monday, October 7th – Team members will attend various PR Agency events, including Ketchum’s annual breakfast, where they’ll highlight the future of nutrition communications, as well receptions that evening with Eat Well Global and The Wonderful Company.
• Sunday, October 6th – Tuesday, October 8th – Team members will disperse and interact with Have A Plant® Ambassadors at various education sessions, as well as engage with current and new prospective produce partners, IFPA members and more during the three-day Expo Trade Show floor.

“This event offers numerous opportunities to advance our mission and position The Foundation for Fresh Produce as a valuable resource for these key professionals. It is equally important for the produce industry to be represented at the largest global nutrition-focused trade show for registered dietitians,” says Alex Dinovo, President & COO of DNO Produce and chair of The Foundation for Fresh Produce. “We cannot effectively change the trajectory of human health without influencing real consumer behavior change, nor can we improve fruit and vegetable consumption without enlisting the support of this integral community.”

For more information about The Foundation for Fresh Produce and how to engage with this impactful health and wellness professional community throughout the year, contact Sharese Roper, Director, Industry & Partner Engagement.

Follow Have A Plant® social media channels to stay inspired and get live updates from the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

About the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)?is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our member’s prosperity by conducting advocacy; connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to?take action?with purpose and confidence.

Contact: Ashley Sempowski, [email protected] +1 (202) 303-3406
Katie Calligaro, [email protected], +1 (412) 848-1644