DNO Produce Welcomes Shannon FitzGerald, PhD, RDN as Snacktime Explorers Specialist
October 29, 2025 | 2 min to read
COLUMBUS, OH — DNO Produce is thrilled to announce that Shannon FitzGerald has joined the company as the new Snacktime Explorers Specialist, where she will help lead the growth of the program alongside us & our partners, Pilot Light Chefs.
Shannon is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and strategic education leader with extensive expertise in developing and scaling school-based nutrition and food education programs. With a deep understanding of school operations, stakeholder engagement, and program sustainability, she has dedicated her career to advancing experiential learning approaches that connect students with food systems, nutrition science, and healthy eating practices.
Her leadership extends beyond the classroom, as she currently serves as Chair of the School Nutrition Services Dietetic Practice Group within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, contributes to the American College of Culinary Medicine, and is a Fellow at the Nutrition & Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN). In addition, Shannon is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Mississippi, teaching child nutrition.
“Shannon brings an incredible mix of passion, expertise, and leadership to Snacktime Explorers,” said Alex DiNovo, President & COO of DNO Produce. “Her ability to connect the dots between nutrition science, education, and school operations makes her a perfect fit for this role. We’re excited to see the impact she will have in helping students build healthy relationships with food.”
Shannon shared her enthusiasm for joining the program: “I’m honored to be part of Snacktime Explorers and to work with DNO and Pilot Light Chefs to grow this important initiative. Empowering students with hands-on food education and access to fresh fruits and vegetables has been at the core of my work, and I look forward to helping even more schools integrate these opportunities into their classrooms.”
With Shannon’s leadership, Snacktime Explorers will continue to expand its reach, creating meaningful learning experiences for students and increasing produce consumption through education and accessibility.
About DNO Produce
Committed to Healthy Made Easy, DNO Produce is a produce distributor and fresh-cut processor based in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1989, the family-owned company provides fresh, healthy, ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables across the Midwest. DNO’s FRESHEALTH product line offers individually packaged produce for school nutrition programs, foodservice operations, retail grab-n-go, and meal kit offerings. Learn more at www.dnoproduce.com.