K-12 School Forum at The Foodservice Conference

The IFPA Foodservice Conference brings together individuals from all segments of the produce foodservice supply chain. This includes grower-shipper-processors, foodservice distributors, procurement and supply chain contacts from national and regional restaurant chains, corporate chefs, college and university foodservice administrators, K-12 school menu planners and more!

The Foodservice Conference is attended by over 1,800 produce industry suppliers and buyers and includes an expo with 200 companies showcasing fresh and fresh-cut fruit and veggies, specifically for the foodservice industry.

The K-12 School Foodservice Forum brings school menu planners and chefs from the nation’s largest school districts to The Foodservice Conference to connect with the produce industry and to create opportunities for ideation, collaboration, and exploring new produce choices for children at school.

K-12 schools are large volume foodservice buyers that serve tens-of-thousands of meals to children every day. They are often the “largest restaurant in town”, introducing kids to a variety of fresh produce, and potentially shaping their comfort-level (and taste preferences) for years to come. Much has changed in recent years, with schools looking for fresh-forward options that mimic what students see at restaurants.

By including K-12 menu planners at The Foodservice Conference, IFPA looks to guide our industry’s understanding of how these foodservice operators make menu decisions and procure produce, as well as introduce school buyers to various foodservice products and pack sizes that exist in the industry.

Program Attendees

IFPA will host school nutrition directors from major city K-12 school districts from California and across the country.

All K-12 School Foodservice Forum attendees are senior leaders within their departments, and may include Foodservice Directors, school chefs, menu planners or other administrators that have responsibility for produce purchasing and/or menu development.

As part of the K-12 School Forum, school menu planners will:

Participate in the conference’s networking and ideation sessions, focused on increasing the use of fresh produce in the foodservice business sector
Attend the produce Foodservice Expo to explore new and unique fresh and fresh-cut produce for foodservice applications
Tour several nearby produce growing fields and learn about fresh-cut produce processing

Sponsorship Support

Sponsorship supports our ability to cover travel and related expenses to host this important buyer segment at The Foodservice Conference. Sponsors also enable IFPA to offer a complimentary conference registration to all K-12 school foodservice menu planners who are interested to attend.

Learn More

Event Questions?

Andrew Marshall

Wholesaler-Distributor Relations
International Fresh Produce Association

+1 (202) 303-3407 Email Andrew Marshall

Interested in sponsoring?

Robyn Florio

Sales & Engagement Manager
International Fresh Produce Association

+1 (302) 607-2152 Email Robyn Florio