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January 2016
Watermelon Update
National Watermelon Promotion Board
2016 Recipes & Carvings
Plus a Press Kit Sneak Peek!
Each year NWPB works with registered
dietitian Elizabeth Somer to create
watermelon recipes to inspire consumers
to “think beyond the wedge.” Recipes
and carvings are then photographed
and promoted in the annual Press Kit
(which goes out to hundreds of the
New York Produce
Show
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journalists, bloggers and freelancers!) and
shared on watermelon.org and across all
social channels. Find all new recipes and
carvings continued on page 2.
Revamped
Foodservice Site
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1321 Sundial Point Winter Springs, FL 32708
International Food
service Editorial
Annual Conference
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Watermelon Update
January 2016
New York Produce Show
Recipes & Carvings
Carvings:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Chesire Cat
Watermelon Grill
Yoda
Recipes:
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Ancient Grain Salad
Brownie Bites
Watermelon Coconut Froth
Flag Kebobs
Flank Steak with
Watermelon Bourbon Glaze
Frozen Frosted Bites
Halibut with Watermelon
Tzatziki
Watermelon Jerky
Lamb Chorizo with
Watermelon
Watermelon Lemonade
Nachos with Watermelon
Avocado Salsa
Watermelon Oatmeal
Smoothie
Watermelon Rind Pickles
Watermelon Layered
Popsicles
Watermelon Pudding
Red, White & Blue Parfait
Rosy Red Superfood
Smoothie
Watermelon Soda Float
NWPB returned as
exhibitors to the Eastern
Produce Council’s New
York Produce Show and
Conference held in
early December. The
three-day event
included networking
opportunities, a trade
show of over 400
companies, retail
“thought-leader”
breakfast panel, and a
foodservice symposium.
The show provided the
perfect setting in which
to engage with retailers,
media, and the
foodservice industry about
materials and information
NWPB has available for
them in promotion and
retail education. To cap
off the week’s festivities,
NWPB’s own Retail
Account Manager Cece
Krumrine was awarded
“Woman of Distinction” by
the Women’s Leadership
Committee of the Eastern
Produce Council!
Congratulations Cece on
a job well done!
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Watermelon Update
January 2016
Revamped Food Service Section of
watermelon.org
In 2015, the Foodservice Program was up
and running and what better place to
showcase the new tools and resources
besides the new responsive
www.watermelon.org?! Now located at
www.watermelon.org/foodservice, the
new cutting and yeild research can be
accessed by the foodservice audience
24/7. Additionally, new shelf life research
can be found along with handling and
availability information. Also available,
the Menu Trends Research can help the
foodservice industry understand why
adding watermelon to a menu can be
beneficial for them and their customers.
The entire foodservice section of the site
highlights the tools and resources
available to other audiences as well and
includes recipes, carvings, nutrition and
much more. In 2016, consumer research
and promotion ideas will be added to
the site to help inspire watermelon
ideation at the chain level. If foodservice
customers are asking for watermelon
information,
www.watermelon.org/foodservice is the
place to direct them!
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Watermelon Update
January 2016
International Foodservice Editorial Annual Conference
The NWPB took full advantage of
the networking and pitching
opportunities at the International
Foodservice Editorial Council
(IFEC) Annual Conference in
Portland, Maine, November 2-5,
2015. IFEC brings editors and
PR/marketing communications
specialists together to exchange
ideas, share resources and confer
on editorial content for
foodservice publications. Member
editors are the voices of the
leading foodservice print and
digital magazines. During the
conference, the NWPB met with
16 editors during ten minute
meetings. It is speed dating with
editors! The NWPB also co-hosted
an editor dinner with other
commodity boards and
organizations having more than
20 editors in attendance, out of
the 26 at the conference.
Watermelon was highlighted in
the menu during the conference
with a mid-afternoon Watermelon
Aqua Fresca and a Watermelon
Pudding for dessert during the
awards luncheon. Finally, Megan
McKenna, director of foodservice
and marketing also chaired the
New Member Committee in 2015.
Being active in the organization
helps to strengthen relationships
with the editors. Many editors fill
their editorial calendars with the
pitches from IFEC, so continued
follow-up from the NWPB should
lead to strong foodservice media
coverage in 2016.
Where will NWPB be next?
United Fresh Midwinter Leadership Forum – Palm
Springs, CA – January 12-14
Western Watermelon Convention – Las Vegas, NV
– January 14-17
Florida Watermelon Convention – Tampa, FL –
January 15-17
South Carolina Watermelon Convention –
Charleston, SC – January 15-17
CIA Worlds of Healthy Flavor – St. Helena, CA –
January 20-22
Georgia Watermelon Convention – St. Simons
Island, GA – January 29-31
MarDel Watermelon Convention – Cambridge,
MD – February 5-6
Alabama Watermelon Convention – Biloxi, MS –
February 12-13
National Watermelon Association Annual
Convention – New Orleans, LA – February 24-27
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