IFPA Expands “School Foodservice Partner X-Change,” Connecting Produce Suppliers with K-12 and University Menu Leaders

February 25, 2026

WASHINGTON – The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) recently hosted its annual School Foodservice Partner X-Change, a high-impact virtual “speed meeting” program designed to connect school menu planners with produce grower-shippers and solution providers.

Over two days, IFPA coordinated one-on-one virtual meetings between these grower-shippers and solution providers with K-12 School nutrition leaders, and new this year, College & University (C&U) foodservice leaders. The meetings created an opportunity for meaningful dialogue across sectors that rarely connect directly but are interested in learning more about each other’s business needs and capabilities.

“The meetings sparked so many actionable ideas for our operations,” said Jeff Weissinger, Assistant Director of Campus Dining, Vanderbilt University. “It was a fantastic opportunity to learn, collaborate, and explore new possibilities for expanding fresh produce on our menus.”

Solving a Critical Challenge: Growing Produce Consumption Early

Ninety percent of Americans still do not consume the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables. Increasing consumption among the nation’s youngest consumers is essential to changing that trajectory.

Schools represent one of the most powerful – and often overlooked – levers in shaping lifelong eating habits. Across the United States, more than 30 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program daily, with fruits and vegetables required components of every meal served.

Yet historically, most grower-shippers communicate primarily with foodservice distributors, not directly with school menu planners. Likewise, school nutrition leaders often only interact with the distributor that wins their district’s produce bid. IFPA’s School Foodservice Partner X-Change closes that gap. By creating direct, structured conversations between produce suppliers and K-12 and C&U operators, the program provides school leaders with greater visibility into:

Available produce variety

Foodservice pack sizes and single serve grab-n-go options

Value-added and labor-saving solutions

Emerging, student-friendly offerings

Marketing, promotion, and nutrition education materials

Armed with this knowledge, school menu planners are empowered to request new products through their distributors, ultimately increasing both the volume and variety of fruits and vegetables offered to students.

“If you think about scale, no other foodservice segment serves as many meals, and as consistently, as these institutional customers,” said Andrew Marshall, who leads IFPA’s engagement with school operators and the association’s wholesaler-distributor membership. “That’s why we often refer to them as the ‘largest restaurant in town’. By connecting menu planners directly with grower- suppliers, we’re helping both sides better understand what’s possible – and ultimately aiming to expand produce options for millions of students.”

Growing Consumption – And the Industry

The School Foodservice Partner X-Change addresses two urgent priorities for the produce industry: increasing consumption and expanding market opportunities.

Early exposure to a wider variety of fruits and vegetables helps build acceptance, preference, and lifelong demand — shaping the next generation of consumers. At the same time, K-12 and C&U foodservice operators represent large-volume buyers, serving tens of thousands — and in some cases hundreds of thousands — of meals per day. Direct engagement with this segment opens new pathways for growers and suppliers while strengthening long-term demand.

For many participating companies, the conversations provide rare, firsthand insight into school menu development, labor constraints, budget realities, nutrition standards, and even opportunities for new partnerships and promotions.

“This was one of the most effective industry events I’ve attended,” said Stacy Koppen, Nutrition Services Director for the Saint Paul Public Schools in Minnesota. “We found these meetings to be incredibly valuable — the format was fast‑paced, engaging, and gave us meaningful time with each grower and partner. We had several members of our team participate, including our District Chef, and we all came away energized, inspired, and far more connected to the mission and opportunities within the produce world.”

“These conversations push us to think beyond simply adding another product to the menu,” said Solon Pietila, CEC, CCA, Associate Director of Culinary and Sr. Executive Chef at Washington State University. “We’re exploring how the experience around a product, such as tastings, storytelling and campus engagement can influence student choice and build real buy-in. When students connect with what’s on their plate, we’re not just serving produce; we’re helping shape healthier behaviors and long-term consumption patterns.”

By connecting schools and suppliers in a structured, curated format, IFPA is future-proofing the industry — growing consumption among young eaters, delivering a highly personalized member experience, and reinforcing the association’s unique role as the only produce trade organization facilitating this level of K-12 and C&U engagement at scale.

“This year’s ‘Partner X-Change' program was perfectly timed to reconnect with the school audience, in-between each year’s IFPA Foodservice Show,” said Megan McKenna, Senior Director of Marketing & Foodservice at the National Watermelon Promotion Board. “The meetings were long enough to make a connection and establish next steps, and I learned something new in each meeting. It was also great to remind this audience of the value watermelon can bring to a menu, as they are planning for next school year, and especially for promotions this coming summer and fall.”

Extending the Impact

The School Foodservice Partner X-Change is part of IFPA’s broader commitment to strengthening school-industry collaboration, including continued engagement at the IFPA Foodservice Conference. In recent years, IFPA has coordinated a K-12 School Forum programming track, and at last year’s conference welcomed more than 20 C&U dining directors and chefs to walk the expo and connect with industry suppliers.

Together, these programs ensure that school foodservice leaders have the insight, access, and partnerships needed to expand fruit and vegetable offerings — and that produce companies have a direct line of sight into one of the most influential foodservice segments in the country.

When schools serve more fruits and vegetables — and students choose them — the impact extends far beyond the cafeteria. It strengthens communities. It builds healthier habits. And it helps change the trajectory of consumption for generations to come.

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with school menu planners at the upcoming IFPA Foodservice Conference, July 23-24, 2026, in Monterey, CA.

2026 School-Buyer Participants

Albuquerque Public Schools (NM)
Baltimore City Public Schools (MD)
Saint Paul Public Schools (MN)
Capital Region and Broome-Tioga BOCES School Districts (NY)
Seattle Public Schools (WA)
Garland ISD (TX)
DeSoto County School District (MS)
Compass/Chartwells K-12 (multi-state)
Sysco education/produce team (multi-state)
Vanderbilt University (TN)
University of Michigan (MI)
University of North Texas (TX)
Washington State University (WA)

2026 Produce Grower-Supplier Participants

Dark Side Equipment
DNO Produce
Gold Coast Packing
Grimmway Produce Group
HMC Farms
National Watermelon Promotion Board
Nature’s Reward
Rockit Apples, Chelan Fresh
Sunkist Growers
Taylor Farms
The Foundation for Fresh Produce (IFPA)
Your Way Fresh
S. Highbush Blueberry Council
USA Pears – Pear Bureau NW

IFPA Expands “School Foodservice Partner X-Change,” Connecting Produce Suppliers with K-12 and University Menu Leaders

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