WINTER SPRINGS, FL – The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) has recently re-launched the Foodservice section of Watermelon.org to highlight new resources for foodservice operators, including the findings of an all new cutting and yield study conducted in the summer of 2015 with the Food Innovation Center at Oregon State University.
Now in the second year of foodservice program at NWPB, Director of Foodservice and Marketing Megan McKenna believes that updating the site with materials and information will promote watermelon usage on menus in all sectors of the foodservice arena.
“The new foodservice section of watermelon.org will provide greater support and resources to operators than ever before,” said Megan McKenna, Director of Foodservice and Marketing. “For example, with a 50% increase of watermelon on salad menus from 2010 to 2014, it’s imperative that we continue to inspire ideation of watermelon usage.”
Additionally, foodservice operators will be able to quickly access foodservice recipes, the latest consumer research, watermelon on menus research and promotion ideas, safe handling practices and NWPB’s logos and graphics. For more information, visit watermelon.org/foodservice or contact Megan McKenna at mmckenna@watermelon.org.
About National Watermelon Promotion Board
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 1,500 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.
Watermelon, the produce leader in lycopene, is a multivitamin unto itself, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamins A and C and a good source of Vitamin B6 with only 80 calories. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was an estimated 14.8 pounds in 2015. Watermelon volume in the United States was approximately 4.7 billion pounds in 2015. For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.
Source: National Watermelon Promotion Board