Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) 19th Nutrition & Product Expo transformed the Humble Civic Center into a circus, equipped with a vibrant array of culinary delights and exciting products! Hosted annually by the Choice Partners (CP) national purchasing cooperative, the event on Oct. 10 offered 140 vendors the opportunity to network and receive feedback on their products.  

Stilt-walking jugglers and balloon-making clowns set the stage as statewide district representatives were the first to arrive. The group explored a range of top-tier offerings, which featured top companies like Mission Restaurant Supply, 4Imprint and more. The main draw for many was the face-to-face connection with large companies that supply districts with millions of dollars in food and an opportunity to secure future partnerships.  

Several booths embraced the circus theme by decorating their stations and dressing up as clowns, ringmasters, acrobats and more. That flair sparked the tastebuds of more than 150 students and school nutrition leaders who traveled from Brenham, Conroe and Galena Park independent school districts to sample new dishes that could soon be added to their school cafeteria menus.  

“I love to see the younger kids running around trying everything, but the high schoolers are often in culinary programs and are trying to network and learn from industry experts,” said Choice Partners Director Jeff Drury. “This expo gives our students and district representatives a chance to see what’s new and find healthy options for their cafeterias while ensuring the vendors are in compliance with the Texas Department of Agriculture.” 

From personal pan pizzas and breakfast sandwiches to smoothies, culturally influenced cuisine and desserts, vendors ensured there was something for every palate to enjoy. Throughout the event, students were asked to provide feedback on the taste, texture and presentation of their samplings to vendors.  

Nutrition directors use the students’ responses to evaluate food and beverage products being considered for their school cafeteria menus. In contrast, CP uses the feedback to plan for future food contracts, enabling the co-op to maintain its standard of service.   

Choice Partners’ food division is one of the state’s biggest in terms of the number of members, vendors and competitively bid contracts. Through the cooperative contracts, school districts in the Harris County area purchase food annually for millions of student lunches.  

To learn more about Choice Partners, visit choicepartners.org.