Annual Conference
Conference Session
2019-11-10
"Menu Innovations with Fruit"Key Areas: Operations
Session: Session G - Sunday, November 10th: 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - 104B
Speaker(s): Ronald D Adams - Consultant, Wild Blueberries
Alexandra Mediate - Consultant, Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine
Objectives: Attendees will analyze fruit choices on a cost per serving basis and balance fruit choices for their budget, operational and marketing demands.
Attendees will be able to compare and contrast Wild and Cultivated Blueberries offered under the USDA Commodity Foods Program.
Attendees will evaluate recipes for inclusion in their program and rank them in order of appeal to students, kitchen staff and parents.
Description: Fruit is a key piece of your meal planning puzzle - learn how to amp up your menu and let fruit go Wild
with new recipes to boost student interest and participation. You will learn how nutrition programs can
save on serving costs, improve participation, address operational concerns and meet USDA guidelines by
choosing USDA Foods Wild Blueberries. Our experts will show you practical and inspirational menu
ideas with recipe demonstrations that will enhance your program. Welcome to the wild side!
Speaker Bio(s):
Ronald D Adams - Wild Blueberries
Speaker Bio:
Ronald Adams, SNS is a consultant for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine focused on education and promotion for the public school nutrition programs nationwide. Ron was a food service director in public schools and childcare for over 24 years culminating as Director of Portland Public Schools overseeing sixteen kitchens serving 5,500 meals daily. Under his leadership, Portland Schools spent approximately 35% of its food budget on local foods in 2015 including fruits, vegetables, beef, chicken, fish and value added products from regional producers. He is a member of the School Nutrition Association as a credentialed School Nutrition Specialist and is an advocate for the farm to institution movement and food security.
Alexandra Mediate - Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine
Speaker Bio:
Ali Mediate is a consultant for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine focused on education and promotion for the public school nutrition programs nationwide. Ali earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Community Development and Sustainable Food & Agriculture from The Evergreen State College. She was a Foodcorps member in Maine and founded Maine Foodscapes to provide public and low-income food gardens along with training, food preservation and life skills across the region.
Upcoming CSNA Events
November 13-16, 202472nd Annual Conference
April 6-8, 2025
Legislative Action Conference
May 4-6, 2025
Child Nutrition & Industry Summit
