Contact: Alexis Steines

(703) 739-3900, ext. 175

 asteines@schoolnutrition.org

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 22, 2009) – When school is out, training and networking is in for the thousands of school nutrition professionals who will attend this year’s Annual National Conference of the School Nutrition Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. With the challenge of rising food and labor costs, increased demand for school meals, the legislative push for national nutrition standards through Child Nutrition Reauthorization, and the ongoing efforts to address childhood overweight, this year’s conference promises to be where the action is. Learn more about all the hot topics June 29 – July 3, 2009, in Las Vegas for SNA’s 63^nd Annual National Conference (ANC.)  The conference includes over 80 educational breakout sessions and the largest exhibit hall in school nutrition, featuring more than 760 booths packed with healthful foods, beverages and ingredients, services, equipment and technology. ANC 2009 will be held at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas.

ANC 2009 provides members of the media an opportunity to understand the trends and issues facing school nutrition programs nationwide:

• Thousands of school nutrition professionals will participate in over 80 education sessions on school nutrition standards, “going green,” food allergies, food recall procedures, school food equipment, nutrition education, local school wellness policies, and managing costs. Attendees have the opportunity to earn up to 20 continuing education units. Four pre-conference sessions will also be held on topics such as financial management and food allergies.
• The largest exhibit hall in school foodservice industry featuring over 760 exhibits, on about 200,000 square feet of space, and over 315 companies.  Exhibitors include major suppliers of food, beverages, equipment, and software/hardware technology as well as smaller companies that contribute to healthy school meal programs.  On display will be a wide variety of whole grain products, fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy items, nutritious snacks and much more. Cameras and interviews are permitted in the exhibit hall with permission.
• Hot topic sessions will be featured including sessions on charge policies, indirect costs, farm-to-school programs, supply chain efficiencies and legislative issues.
• General session speakers include musician and innovator Robin Crow, entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie and author Jeannette Walls. National awards of excellence in school nutrition will also be presented.
• Six culinary demonstrations featuring innovative recipes and foods including creative whole grain biscuits, quesadillas, rice bowls and an egg-stravaganza.

SNA, (http://www.schoolnutrition.org) the School Nutrition Association, is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country.  Founded in 1946, the Association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals. 

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