ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 7, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- An estimated 7,000 attendees, including about 400 exhibiting companies, will travel to Nashville in mid-July for the American School Food Service Association's (ASFSA) 55th Annual National Conference. The event takes place from Sunday, July 15, to Wednesday, July 18, at the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center.
Highlighting the event will be keynote addresses by former U.S. Senator George McGovern, now the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food & Agriculture, and by entertainer Naomi Judd. During a general session on July 17, McGovern will talk about the international school lunch program that he has championed along with former U.S. Senator Robert Dole.
Other general sessions of the conference will include presentations by David Rosengarten, the host of "Taste" and co-anchor of "Food Today" on the cable TV Food Network, and Dr. Bertrice Berry, an award-winning lecturer, Ph.D. in sociology and former professor at Kent State University.
The delegates, mainly school foodservice directors and staff from school districts all across the United States, will attend more than 90 educational sessions in seven different topical areas -- Administration, Human Resources, Leadership, Nutrition, Operations, Outreach and Marketing, and Technology.
Among the more noteworthy breakout sessions scheduled are:
-- Addressing Childhood Obesity
-- How to use the new USDA Food Buying Guide
-- Competitive Food Policies
-- Safe Schools -- Safe Foods: Are you concerned about meeting the
food safety challenge?
-- Using USDA Commodities Effectively
-- School Feeding Around the World: A Global View, and
-- Making a Difference by Making Your School Cafeteria a Community
Kitchen.
The exhibit hall will include more than 700 display booths featuring demonstrations and samples of the products offered by more than 400 food and equipment manufacturers, service providers and technology companies. In addition to new foods and other products available for school meals programs, the exhibits also will feature entertaining culinary displays. The exhibit hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 17, and from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 18.
Conference attendees also will visit the Child Nutrition Showcase, open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 16 and 17. The showcase will feature displays on topics such as Innovative Facility Design, Marketing & Customer Service, Nutrition Education & Training, Training & Staff Development, and Research Related to Child Nutrition Programs.
Also participating in the conference are 11 delegates from other nations, taking part in the Global Child Nutrition Forum. In addition to participating in the conference, these delegates also will hold several roundtable discussions on topics like the sustainability of school feeding programs and partnerships between industry and school foodservice.
Other events taking place during the Annual National Conference will include a silent auction to raise funds for scholarships for school foodservice and nutrition professionals, a Gala Awards Presentation on July 15, and the Walk Against World Hunger on July 16. The attendees also will enjoy an Evening of Entertainment on July 17, featuring the music of country singer, Neal McCoy. The general sessions, educational sessions and exhibit hall are open free of charge to working press who wish to cover the conference for their publications. To obtain a press registration form, contact Joe Haas at (703) 739-3900, ext. 122, or Jhaas@asfsa.org. For more information on ASFSA's Annual National Conference, please visit www.asfsa.org.
ASFSA is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 58,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. Founded in 1946, ASFSA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children's health and well-being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
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CONTACT: American School Food Service Association
Joseph Haas
(703) 739-3900, ext. 122
Jhaas@asfsa.org