WASHINGTON, DC - The world’s largest meeting of food, nutrition, and dietetics professionals is taking place this week! The Foundation for Fresh Produce is gearing up for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE), which aims to educate and inspire dietitians during multiple exclusive and invitation-only events, as well as through its exhibitor booth on the trade show floor. Additionally, this year, the Foundation will leverage its consumer campaign, Have A Plant®.

“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 and Communications, FFP. “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. 

Detailed in a press release, t-shirt giveaways and fruit and veggie tattoos will generate buzz, while the team engages with the dietitians asking them to join a "Hack-A-Thon" and offer their best fruit- or veggie-hack for use on the Have A Plant consumer-facing social media channels.

“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,” said Alex Dinovo, President and Chief Operating Officer, 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.”

The five-day show will be packed with engagement and education opportunities. Check out this link for more event details and an interactive map.

When you’re peckish for more industry updates, you know where to click!

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - A photo booth, samples, and two zany kiwi brothers await you at the Zespri™ booth, #B4052, with the company now entering its seventh year as an exhibitor and sponsor at the International Fresh Produce Association's (IFPA) Global Produce & Floral Show. Retailers and industry professionals can expect Zespri’s playfully unexpected, bold, and real personality there, and understand why Zespri’s Kiwi is the No. 1 selling kiwifruit.

“Our booth is always busy with excitement, and it really is an extension of our omnichannel Taste the Obsession campaign,” explained Jeanne Wilson, Head of Marketing for North America. “This year we elevated the campaign with the addition of our KiwiBrothers. They are here to spread the sweet and juicy kiwi obsession across America. We will see more of them next year across our full marketing mix, including in-store and point-of-sale materials. We encourage retailers to contact their Zespri rep in advance to schedule a meeting. We are excited to share our new merchandising opportunities and set programs for 2025!”

In addition to driving awareness of Zespri Kiwifruit, the grower’s in-store displays, digital programs, and incentives have propelled shoppers to purchase Zespri’s Kiwifruit, keeping the brand in the No. 1 position across the category in terms of total sales and total dollar growth, shared a press release.

“Zespri has sold over five times the amount of dollar sales this season compared to the next largest competitor,” stated Bianca Fiedler, Trade Marketing Director. “The growth is driven primarily by Zespri’s SunGold™ Kiwifruit with an over 15 percent increase in dollar sales and 11 percent in volume sales versus a year ago.”

To kick off the IFPA events, Zespri will co-sponsor the Welcome Reception where attendees can enjoy SunGold Kiwi-inspired dishes and cocktails, and meet with the Zespri team. Additionally, Zespri employees will be there to spark excitement and enthusiasm with creative costumes and contagious energy, participating in the 5K race both as a participant and sponsor.

“The IFPA trade show is a welcomed industry event,” added Wilson. “We look forward to meeting with retailers and key industry leaders, showcasing our kiwifruit and Zespri spirit.”

To stay in the know ahead of the annual showcase, keep clicking back to ANUK.