Pleasure was within the air when our crew arrived in Sacramento, California, and began organising our sales space on the California College Diet Affiliation’s Annual Convention (CSNA). We couldn’t wait to unfold the phrase about our farm-to-school fruit and vegetable supply program to new districts, cross out samples of our contemporary fruit, and hug our shoppers.
It was a whirlwind three days (we attended November 14–16), and we had an absolute blast. Listed below are a number of of the highlights.
Foolish Outfits & Enjoyable Giveaways
This yr’s convention theme was “Hitting a Dwelling Run for Baby Diet,” and, as all the time, we went all-in to rejoice it.
“Our sales space’s A League of Their Personal theme and our baseball costumes have been an enormous hit,” Krista Feldhouse, one in all our faculty account senior coordinators, stated. “We simply couldn’t resist being the Rockford Peaches—we’re from The FruitGuys in any case!”
One spotlight was a baseball-themed photograph sales space we arrange with assist from The Pics Cease the place clients may take selfies with us and one another. We additionally introduced a number of extras to present away alongside our fruit: colourful FruitGuys Farm-to-College Program tote baggage and enjoyable fruit and veggie buying and selling playing cards.
Contemporary Fruit the College students Cherished
All the freebies have been a success, however nothing went as quick because the piles and piles of contemporary fruit and greens that we dropped at share with attendees.
Jaysa Tabbada, one other of our faculty account senior coordinators, stated, “Certainly one of my favourite elements of CSNA was seeing a subject journey of youngsters run as much as our sales space and get so excited to see all the attractive vegetables and fruit we needed to provide. They have been taking so many bananas, apples, watermelons, and all of the distinctive gadgets!”
“We went by way of virtually all of our produce,” stated Carol Stewart, our director of college program improvement. “That has by no means occurred earlier than.”
Heartwarming Suggestions from Farm-to-College Shoppers
Yearly, probably the greatest elements of CSNA is assembly representatives from the greater than 70 faculty districts that we serve face-to-face.
“Certainly one of my first faculty accounts got here by the sales space to present me a hug and say how a lot her workers likes to work with us,” Jaysa recalled. “She even stated that the youngsters love our produce and know when the fruit and greens aren’t from The FruitGuys!’”
Krizzia De La Cuesta, one other faculty account senior coordinator, stated that clients instructed her their college students liked “the fruit choice” and significantly loved their supply of Lucy Glo apples, which have yellow pores and skin and shocking reddish-pink flesh.
Lucy Glo apples—a favourite of the scholars we serve
“I liked seeing a few of our longtime and favourite clients in particular person,” stated Czareanah Do, our colleges account supervisor. “Seeing the grins on their faces once they stated, ‘Oh, we liked it once you despatched us this,’ or ‘The children actually loved making an attempt that,’ made the work we do to ship contemporary fruit and greens to varsities really feel actually worthwhile. My favourite reminiscence this yr was seeing one buyer who I’ve been working with for nearly ten years. She made a degree to cease by to see me on the sales space on Saturday and we shared massive hugs and took images collectively.”
Profitable Finest Sales space
The icing on the cake of our crew’s expertise this yr was successful Finest General Sales space, an award given by the CSNA board members.
“We begin planning for CSNA months earlier than the convention so it’s so thrilling to lastly see all of our concepts come collectively and to obtain the most effective sales space award,” Jaysa stated.
CSNA all the time brings our crew nearer, and this yr we felt extra linked than ever.
A Vibrant Future for Farm-to-College
Not solely was CSNA enjoyable and heartwarming, however it was additionally a studying expertise for us. We used the convention as a chance to ask questions and learn how we will proceed serving to the college districts we serve within the coming yr and past.
“From what we gathered this yr, districts are keen and excited to supply extra fruits and veggies to their college students however are somewhat misplaced and overwhelmed as to easy methods to do it,” Krista stated. “As our CEO, Erin, so skillfully put it, The FruitGuys is the ‘to’ in farm-to-school. We may help districts join with farms and get the produce to the faculties in order that they’ll deal with serving it to their college students.”
You possibly can study extra about our Farm-to-College Program right here.
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