DENVER and BUFFALO, N.Y. (Sept. 18, 2012) – A show-within-a-show concept – Healthy Food in Parks – has been added to the Sept. 19 Sysco Denver Food Show.
Members of the National Parks Hospitality Association and National Park Service have been invited to Healthy Food in Parks to increase awareness and promote education of the healthy food options being served by national park concessioners, such as Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, a global leader in hospitality and food service.
The event is being co-presented by the NPHA, which is an association representing all companies operating in national parks, and Sysco Foods, a major food supplier.
“The National Park Service and its concessioner partners are committed to supporting healthy lifestyles in America by offering and encouraging healthy food choices. Each year, there are 35 million meals being served at the national parks,” said NPHA Counselor Derrick Crandall. “The NPS and its concessioners have worked to develop minimum standards for healthy foods in parks and to find ways to highlight the availability of nutritious food and its benefits. Choosing healthy foods will reflect a change in the buying habits for many park visitors, but successful efforts to promote this selection, coupled with success in making the healthy food enjoyable, can help encourage better food choices long after a park visit.”
The NPHA is the national trade association of the businesses that provide lodging, food services, gifts and souvenirs, equipment rentals, transportation and other visitor services in the National Park System. Concessioners have served park visitors since the 1870s. NPHA members have a combined workforce of nearly 25,000 persons — mostly front-line, visitor-contact jobs — and provide in excess of $1.1 billion in goods and services to visitors annually. NPHA members operate in more than 100 park units and generate more than $100 million annually for the National Park Service budget. Guest Donation Programs operated by concessioners have provided millions of dollars for park projects and programs.
“Operating in the busiest national parks, it’s important for us to understand what our guests want,” said Kevin Kelly, president of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts and vice chair of NPHA. “Today’s consumer enjoys our vast culinary capabilities, certainly expecting that healthy food is a component. As such, the Healthy Food in Parks event is a great opportunity to share best practices, meet with the suppliers, see their products and understand the wide array of healthy options that are available to us, the concessionaires and hospitality providers at national parks.”
Delaware North Companies worked closely with the NPHA, NPS and Sysco Foods to create the Healthy Food in Parks event.
“Sysco Corporation is proud to be working with the NPHA to host the Healthy Foods in Parks event at Sysco of Denver’s Food Show,” said John Miko, Sysco’s director of marketing. “We welcome our NPS attendees to the event and look forward to a day filled with education and product demonstrations that will support the efforts of the NPS Healthy and Sustainable Food program and the members of NPHA.”