A light, grab-and-go breakfast will be provided. If you prefer a full breakfast, please enjoy this at your hotel before arriving at The Convention Center. 

Learn how rural communities are expanding summer meal access! Hear from operators and vendors who have successfully leveraged the rural non-congregate mail delivery flexibility to bring meals to more kids in the summer. This session will cover policies and procedures, share best practices, and highlight real-world lessons learned. Facilitated by the VDOE Community Nutrition Programs team.

School nutrition leaders continue to face rising costs, unpaid meal debt, and reimbursement rates that rarely match program realities. This session explores strategies districts can use to strengthen financial sustainability without compromising food quality or access. Speakers will share best practices for forecasting, menu planning, managing unpaid meal balances, and advocating effectively for improved funding and policy support. Participants will leave with practical tools to protect program budgets, communicate value to administrators, and build resilience against future fiscal pressures.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring food service experts and nutrition directors from Virginia. These leaders will share their experiences in developing sustainable, on-site hydroponic gardens that provide fresh, nutrient-rich leafy greens and herbs year-round. Learn practical strategies for marketing your program, engaging students, and involving the community to transform your garden into a vibrant hub for health and education. From integrating hydroponic gardens into classrooms to incorporating fresh produce into cafeteria meals, this panel will offer actionable tips for making the most of your garden. The session will conclude with remarks from Joseph Guthrie, former Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia, who will discuss the evolving landscape of Controlled Environment Agriculture in Virginia and the critical role school-based hydroponics play in building the workforce for these fast-growing, future-facing careers. Walk away with the tools, leadership strategies, and vision needed to cultivate a thriving farm-to-school program that benefits students, staff, and the wider community.

This interactive workshop goes beyond the basics of procurement by giving participants hands-on experience with real-world challenges. You’ll walk through the entire bid evaluation process using mock bids, identify missing elements, and explore ways to strengthen bids—such as improving product specifications and defining “local.” This session will equip you with practical strategies to make procurement effective, efficient, and compliant with federal and state procurement regulations.

Join us for an interactive presentation on how and why we conduct our student-focused food shows. This session will explore best practices in school nutrition, highlighting strategies for engaging students, gathering valuable feedback, and showcasing your meal program in an innovative and student-centered way. Attendees will learn practical tips for planning and executing food shows, understand the benefits of involving student voices in menu development, and discover how these events can enhance participation and promote healthier eating habits. Whether you’re looking to increase student engagement, improve menu offerings, or creatively market your program, this session offers actionable insights and inspiration.

Discover how Artificial Intelligence can revolutionize your school nutrition program! From digital test kitchens that spark recipe creativity to smarter ways to cut food waste, boost scratch cooking, and track purchasing data, this session will show you practical tools that save time and resources. Walk away with fresh ideas to make your menus more sustainable, efficient, and student friendly.

The school food workforce is at the heart of exciting changes happening in school meal programs across Virginia, bringing healthier, scratch-cooked meals to students. Hear from school food directors as they share their experience working with a workforce development program designed to grow and upskill the school food workforce. Additionally, these directors will share successes, challenges, and best practices for growing their scratch-cooking operations by developing their incredible teams of school food professionals. This session will conclude with the drawing of raffles.