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February/March 2016
Watermelon Update
National Watermelon Promotion Board
Worlds of Healthy Flavors
At Culinary Institute of America
In an effort to reach decision makers across
foodservice organizations, the NWPB
sponsored Worlds of Healthy Flavors at the
Culinary Institute of America to give us access
to some of the nutrition professionals in large
foodservice companies. Worlds of Healthy
Flavors attendees include top nutrition
researchers, influential corporate chefs,
nutrition executives, etc. who come together
to discuss opportunities for presenting
American consumers with a wider range of
healthy food and beverage options.
Watermelon was featured throughout the
Jump with Jill Shows
Awarded &
Produce for Better
Health
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event including fresh-cut on breakfast buffets,
in aqua frescas and teas during breaks, on
frozen yogurt topping stations and receptions
and a rind slaw on a salmon-mushroom
blended burger. The NWPB hosted
representatives from Brinker and Red Lobster
for dinner in addition to making great
contacts with multiple foodservice
companies during the event including
McDonald’s, McAlister’s Deli, AVI Foodsystems
and many more. Follow-up is ongoing to help
educate contacts about how watermelon
can add to a menu’s health halo and inspire
creative watermelon recipes.
Dishing with the
Media Event &
NWPB Upcoming
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1321 Sundial Point Winter Springs, FL 32708
NWPB Participates
in its First Virtual
Trade Show
Page 4
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Watermelon Update
February/March 2016
Jump with Jill Shows Awarded
for Marine Corps Marathon
The Healthy School Award from the Marine Corps Marathon went to the top 5 schools
who had the most kids participate in the kids run at the Pentagon. NWPB funded the
Jump with Jill show to award as a prize, and all schools received their prize
performances in the first week of February. The show also incorporated Marines, MCM
mascots Miles and Molly, and a check presentation for each of these top schools.
Watermelon
Board
Receives
Champion
Award from
Produce for
Better Health
Foundation
NWPB was recently recognized as a 2015
Champion award winner for participation in the
Fruits & Veggies - More Matters brand and national
health campaign to increase fruit and vegetable
consumption to help improve the health of
America. Award recipients will be acknowledged
during a special awards luncheon at Produce for
Better Health’s 2016 Annual Conference in April.
More information about Produce for Better Health
Foundation and their campaign awards release
can be found at pbhfoundation.org.
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Watermelon Update
February/March 2016
All photos courtesy of Dishing with the Media photographer Abby Schwamm.
Dishing with the Media in NYC
Summer Garden Party Theme
for Food Editors
In late January, Dishing with the Media
hosted an interactive and informative
media event for 30 top-tier long-lead
media based in NYC at a loft space in
Chelsea. The theme of the event was
"Summer Garden Party" and editors were
looking for foods and beverages to
feature in their summer issues.
Watermelon was featured in the main
entree prepared by Chef Melanie
Underwood: Grilled Turkey and
Watermelon Kebabs. Different from other
tabletop sponsor events, the social and
entertaining setting helped relationship
building with editors from USA News, Food
Network, Good Housekeeping,
Family Circle, WeightWatchers.com
and more.
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Watermelon Update
February/March 2016
NWPB Participates in its First Virtual Trade Show
From February 1-12, 2016, for 24
hours a day, the NWPB
participated in its first virtual trade
show, CSI Foodpro Expo. School
Foodservice Directors were the
main audience including all
School Nutrition Association (SNA)
Members. The booth included the
Handling Video, nutrition
information, our freebies order
form with multiple examples of
items available and a link to
watermelon.org. To have more
interaction with attendees, there
was a short survey, the same
survey executed after SNA. Those
that completed the survey were
entered in a drawing to win a
watermelon cutting board. There
were 361 visitors to the booth and
122 visitors completed the survey.
They will be notified when new
tools and resources are available
for this audience later in the year.
Although a very different
experience than an in-person
tradeshow, this gives companies
the opportunity to save on travel
costs and connect virtually where
tools are accessible quickly and
easily.
Where will NWPB
be next?
Virtual Trade Show Floor:
Virtual Booth:
NGA Show – Las Vegas, NV – February 28-March 2
Menu Directions – Jacksonville, FL – February 28 –
March 1
Illiana Watermelon Association 27th Annual
Convention – French Lick, IN – March 4-5
North Carolina Watermelon Association Annual
Convention – Wrightsville Beach, NC – March1112
Viva Fresh Expo – San Antonio, TX – March 31-April
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