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Bethel School District Facilities Tour
Hosted by Bethel School District
1.5 hours, PS Code, 1100 & 2100

Curious about centralized food production? What is a cook-chill system? What is reduced oxygen packaging? Come and see our real-life lunch lab in Bethel School District! This session will provide you with an overview of centralized food production and it's application in the school nutrition environment. Leeda Beha, Director of Child Nutrition and Warehousing Services at Bethel School District, will provide an overview how it is similar and different from on-site and central/satellite production models and it's advantages and challenges when producing food USDA school meal programs. This session will be a combination of classroom instruction and tour of Bethel School District's central kitchen.   

Lunch Lab: From Farm to Tray — The Science of Fresh-Cut Produce
Hosted by Penny's Salsa
1.5 hours, PS Code, 1100

Step into the Lunch Lab for an immersive behind-the-scenes experience exploring how fresh-cut fruits and vegetables move from Washington farms to school cafeterias. This hands-on session begins with a guided farm tour and continues through the processing and distribution journey, giving attendees a firsthand look at how locally grown produce can support school meal programs across the state.

Participants will learn about: Attendees will also dive into the science behind fresh-cut produce, including how fruits and vegetables are kept fresh, crisp, and protected from browning after processing. This interactive session blends agriculture, nutrition, food science, and practical school nutrition applications into one engaging Lunch Lab experience.

• Perfect for school nutrition professionals, menu planners, farm-to-school advocates, and anyone passionate about bringing local foods to students.
• Fruit and vegetable processing techniques
• The benefits of using fresh-cut and processed produce in school nutrition programs
• Strategies for sourcing local Washington-grown products
• Ways schools can successfully incorporate these products into menus
• Produce seasonality and sourcing throughout Washington State
• Distribution systems that help connect farms to schools  

Tacoma Scenic Walking Tour
Hosted by Pretty Gritty City Tour and Hormel Foods
Does not meet the requirements to credit to towards professional standards training requirements

Get to Know Tacoma:
Time: 1.5 hrs
Distance: 10 blocks
What to bring: Comfy Shoes, Camera, Curiosity

Tacoma is a city with a lot of stereotypes and myths. Which of these is true and which of them is propaganda? Find out with us on this walking tour as we discover "The City of Destiny" along one of its most famous and powerful streets, Pacific Avenue...

We will see the major sites of Tacoma, the Glass Museum, Union Depot, the Tacoma Dome, the Chihuly Glass Bridge, and Old City Hall, and lets you get acquainted with our great city. This tour will also take you past some of our favorite restaurants along the way in case you would like to stop after.
If you've never been to Tacoma before or want to know more about what makes this city unique, this is the tour for you.

A walking tour of the downtown corridor that talks about all the myths, legends, and famous tales that made Tacoma one of the most famous cities on the West Coast. From Whiskey Row to the giant octopus, this tour focuses on the best of the best. This tour will help you get to know Tacoma faster than any other and highlights the amazing parts of our downtown corridor.

Wellness Activity
Hosted by our Wellness Sponsors
Does not meet the requirements to credit to towards professional standards training requirements

This event is a great low-impact wellness activity hosted on-site at the convention center! Learn skills to keep wellness top of mind in your kitchen, office, and as you move through life.

Recharge & Release: Everyday Mobility for
School Nutrition Professionals

Format: Gentle Stretch & Self-Myofascial Release (SMR)
Attire: Come as you are! No workout clothes or floor work required.

 

Why This Session is Vital for You
School food service is deeply rewarding, but it is also highly physical work. Years of long hours on your feet, heavy lifting, and repetitive motions take a toll on the body. As we age, being intentional about preventing injury, reducing daily pain, and maintaining our range of motion becomes essential.
This low-impact session is your dedicated time to hit the reset button after a busy few days walking the food show floor, giving you practical tools to bring immediate relief into your school kitchen, office, or home.

What We Will Cover
Nervous System Reset: Kick off with grounding, restorative breathing exercises (like Box and "Voo" breathing) to calm the mind and body.
The Science of SMR: Learn how using a simple tool like a lacrosse ball triggers a nervous system reflex, signaling tight muscle fibers to loosen while rushing fresh, oxygen-rich blood back into your tissues.
Standing & Seated Lower-Body Relief: Experience targeted techniques for your feet and gentle, chair-based stretches to alleviate sciatica and lower body fatigue—perfect for when you are too exhausted to get on the floor.
Carpal Tunnel & Upper-Body Care: Repetitive motion can lead to hand, wrist, and arm strain. We will walk through active stretches and hand-circulation techniques using a lacrosse ball to prevent injury and combat inflammation.

What You Take Home
A Free Lacrosse Ball to immediately start your own relief routine.
A Complete Routine Handout: A recap of all the key breathing, chair stretching, and SMR exercises practiced in class so you can confidently replicate the entire session at home or work.

Invest a few minutes in your physical longevity—join us from 2:00 to 3:30 PM to roll away the stress and leave feeling completely rejuvenated!