On March 2 through 5, the Cherry Marketing Institute took part in the Research Chefs Association’s (RCA) Annual Conference & Culinology Expo. The RCA conference is the only research and development conference focused on the discipline of Culinology—the blending of culinary arts and food science. At the conference, CMI hosted a session entitled “Ingredient Selection: Navigating Nutrition Trends and Public Policy.”

During this session, a panel of experts, including award-winning former journalist and food-policy expert Sally Squires, recognized registered dietitian and author Dr. Wendy Bazilian. CMI’s own commodity-marketing expert, Jeff Manning, discussed how the perfect storm of new dietary guidelines, regulatory action, activist mandates and a highly politicized environment create a number of vulnerabilities and opportunities for ingredient decision-makers. The panel worked to help RCA attendees understand consumer insights, policy updates, and nutrition trends that can lead to successful innovation.

CMI also hosted two “Red Recovery Breaks” that put tart cherry applications and information into the hands and mouths of key decision makers.