Washington, D.C. (October 7, 2019) — As Executive Director of the Urban School Food Alliance, Katie Wilson leads a collaboration of foodservice directors from 10 of the largest school districts in the United States in their quest to provide healthy foods to kids. Joining the United Fresh Start Foundation’s FreshStart Conference in January 2020 as keynote speaker, Katie will share insights into how the Alliance is working to provide more fresh fruits and vegetables to the 3.3 million students served every day, maximizing their food budget of over $755 million.
“From salad bars in school lunch rooms to fresh fruit and vegetable snacks in the classroom, United Fresh has spearheaded efforts to increase kids’ access to fresh produce,” said United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel. “The Urban School Food Alliance has been a partner with us since their formation, meeting with our members at the United Fresh Convention & Expo and working with individual distributors in their areas to increase produce purchases. Katie has been an advocate throughout her career, and it’s an honor to have her share her perspectives with us this January.”
Dr. Katie Wilson spent 23 years as a successful school nutrition director in three Wisconsin public schools, five years as Executive Director for the Institute of Child Nutrition (USDA’s training portal for school nutrition nationwide), and two years as USDA Deputy Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, during the Obama Administration. She also served as the elected president of the School Nutrition Association in 2008.
Following the keynote lunch, attendees can choose education sessions focused on ways to increase sales to children and their families through either retail or foodservice. The retail track will focus on store level engagement with kids, and ways produce suppliers can partner with retailers. The foodservice track will look at enhancing children’s menus and produce offerings in restaurants, as well as continuing to make gains in schools.
The United Fresh Start Foundation’s annual event will once again feature the Growing Up Fresh golf tournament, the Bids for Kids silent and live auction, and the gala dinner presenting United Fresh’s 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. The FreshStart Conference will take place January 14-16, 2020, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ. United Fresh will also hold all of its committee, council and board meetings at the conference, which are open to all members to observe.
FreshStart Conference registration including the gala dinner is only $295 for members, or $495 for non-members. Registration for the Growing Up Fresh Golf Tournament is $300, with proceeds going to support the United Fresh Start Foundation. To register, visit www.unitedfresh.org.
For more information, contact Amanda Griffin, Vice President, Education & Programs Management at agriffin@unitedfresh.org or 202-303-3412.
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About United Fresh Start Foundation
The United Fresh Start Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization focused exclusively on increasing children’s access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Affiliated with the United Fresh Produce Association, the Foundation is committed to helping today’s kids achieve the public health goal to make half their plate fruits and vegetables to live longer, healthier lives. The Foundation works to create an environment in which kids have easy access to high-quality, great-tasting and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, whenever and wherever they are choosing snacks or a meal. More information at: www.unitedfreshstart.org.
