The Foundation for Fresh Produce is continuing its investment in health and wellness professionals through fall events designed to strengthen connections and inspire fruit and vegetable consumption, welcoming 19 retail dietitians representing 18 retail organizations to its annual Retail Dietitian Immersion Event alongside the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show, held Oct. 13-16 in Orlando, Florida.
The momentum continues at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, Oct. 24-27 in San Antonio, Texas – part of a strategy to engage nutrition professionals at multiple points of influence, including retail, foodservice, public health, healthcare and media.
“Whether we’re engaging retail dietitians at GPFS, connecting with nutrition communicators at FNCE or providing educational resources year-round, our goal remains the same: equip trusted professionals with the tools, insights and partnerships that help people eat more fruits and vegetables,” said Emily Holdorf, influencer and community manager at The Foundation for Fresh Produce.
Immersion event at GPFS
For more than a decade, the Retail Dietitian Immersion Event has given retail dietitians direct access to produce industry leaders, consumer insights, nutrition research and networking. This year’s theme, “Produce That Connects: Culture, Value, Convenience & Trends,” explored cultural food traditions, consumer definitions of value beyond price, convenience solutions supporting healthier eating and emerging retail trends, through education sessions and prescheduled booth visits.
“Retail RDs play an important role in bridging the gap between nutrition and consumer choices, inspiring shoppers to discover new products and incorporate more fresh produce into their everyday lives,” said Alyna Cardenas, marketing manager at Malena Produce, a first-time sponsor.
Dietitians attended from Amazon/Whole Foods, Big Y, Coborn’s, Fresh Thyme, Giant Food, Harmon’s Grocery, H-E-B, Inserra ShopRite, Kroger, Meijer, Natural Grocers, Redner’s, Stop & Shop, United Supermarkets (Albertsons), Wawa, Wegmans, Weis Markets and Zallie ShopRite.
Next stop: FNCE
At FNCE, one of the world’s largest gatherings of registered dietitians and nutrition professionals, the foundation will distribute fruits and vegetables at its booth, offer Have A Plant merchandise and consumer-facing recipes and toolkits, and provide professional education materials and continuing education opportunities.
The Foundation for Fresh Produce works to grow a healthier world by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, improving access and nurturing produce champions.
Related: Foundation For Fresh Produce Taps Dietitians To Drive Demand