Foundation for Fresh Produce, IFPA engage retail dietitians at pair of events

As part of an influencer engagement strategy, the International Fresh Produce Association and the Foundation for Fresh Produce have left their mark connecting and convening dietitians over the past few weeks during two events: the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo and the Retail Registered Dietician Immersion Event at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show, according to a news release.

The events delivered on the Foundation for Fresh Produce’s vision to grow a healthier world by improving access, boosting appeal and forging strategic alliances that increase consumption of fruits and vegetables through engagement, inspiration and tailored education, the release said.

“The work that the Foundation for Fresh Produce is doing to connect with and educate dietitians is unmatched,” Alex DiNovo, president and chief operating officer of DNO Produce, said in the release. DiNovo is also the incoming chair for the Foundation for Fresh Produce. “We’re thrilled to champion and continue this work in 2024 to advance the global nutrition narrative around fruits and vegetables and helping to grow a healthier world by changing the trajectory of human health through produce. We could not do this work without dietitians who are on the front lines educating, counseling and communicating with consumers every single day.”  

First Food and Nutrition Conference in the books

For the first time, IFPA and FFP showed up in a big way with a Have A Plant booth at this year’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, featuring fresh fruits and vegetables, T-shirt giveaways and a photo booth, the release said.

The IFPA team engaged with more than 2,000 dietitians during the three-day event, highlighting resources such as fruitsandveggies.org, a new school breakfast recipe toolkit and simple messaging to pass on to clients, patients and communities: “Every time you eat, have a plant!”

What’s more, Have A Plant ambassadors connected at the booth to generate excitement with attendees at the photo booth. Fresh produce was front and center with attendees on the expo show floor in one of the only booths featuring fresh offerings, the release said.

Global Produce and Floral Show’s retail dietitian show within a show  

In addition to the expo, FFP hosted 20 influential retail dietitians at its 2023 Retail Dietitian Immersion Event during IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show, Oct. 19-21, in Anaheim, Calif.  

For more than a decade, the event has provided consumer-facing retail dietitians with access to the latest fresh produce innovations, new research and behavioral insights along with tools to inspire new fruit and vegetable consumption habits in-store and online, according to the release.

This year’s event included four days of education sessions; several tasting events; a Los Angeles retail store tour that included Sprouts, Erewhon, Gelson’s and Northgate Market; networking opportunities; IFPA’s general sessions; Women’s Leadership Breakfast; and expo show floor networking.

According to the release, dietitians from retailers in attendance included:  

• AMInc. Healthy Path Market 

• Big Y Foods 

• Coborn's Inc. 

• Fresh Thyme Market

• Gelson's 

• Giant Food 

• Harmons Grocery 

• H-E-B 

• Inserra Supermarket Inc./ShopRite

• Kroger 

• Loblaws 

• Meijer 

• Natural Grocers 

• Rouses Markets

• Schnuck Markets 

• ShopRite/Zallie Family Markets 

• Stop & Shop 

• The Giant Co.

• United Family of Stores 

• Weis Markets