Networking Reception
🍸 Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
🕔 Time: 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM CDT
📍 Location: Delta Hotels (1330 Industrial Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)
🎟️ Cost: Free
Join fellow attendees for an informal networking reception the evening before the main event. The evening will include event pre-registration, networking opportunities, a brief informal presentation, and light refreshments. If you plan to attend, please indicate your interest during registration.
Report Launch & Workshop
Insights into Dairy Demand and Purchasing Decisions among Low-Income Consumers
📅 Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT (Registration and breakfast begin at 7:45 AM CDT)
📍 Location: Delta Hotels (1330 Industrial Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)
🎟️ Cost: Free
Organized by Food Systems for the Future Institute and Midwest Dairy, this event marks the release of our report on "Dairy Demand and Purchasing Decisions among Low-Income Consumers. It will bring together stakeholders from public health, extension, food supply, research, and policy to examine the findings and discuss their implications for future programming, partnerships, and policy.
Participants joining in Minneapolis will hear from featured speakers, explore the report's key findings, and participate in an interactive workshop to examine the implications of the research, identify priorities for future work, and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration. Together, these sessions are designed to foster meaningful dialogue and inform strategies that better support low-income consumers in choosing, purchasing, and enjoying dairy foods.
The event will feature:
An opening and armchair conversation (speakers to be announced)
Presentation of key findings from FSFI's research on dairy demand and purchasing behavior among low-income consumers in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota
An interactive workshop exploring recommendations for follow-on work and prioritized opportunities for partnerships, programming, and policy translation
Diverse perspectives from across the food systems landscape
Identification of high-impact pathways and collaborative approaches that translate insights into actionable strategies to support low-income consumers in choosing, purchasing, and enjoying dairy foods
Opportunities to connect with researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders
Full agenda coming soon.
Registration closes September 10, 2026
✈️ Traveling to Minneapolis
Traveling to Minneapolis? A discounted room rate is available at the Delta Hotels through our reserved room block. Click here to reserve your room by 12:00 PM (CDT) on August 25, 2026 to receive the discounted rate.
Getting from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to the Delta Hotels:
Light Rail (METRO Blue Line): Approximately 20–30 minutes, depending on your hotel location and any short walk from the station.
Taxi or rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Approximately 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Rental car: Available at the airport if you plan to drive during your stay.
ℹ️ Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. A virtual attendance option is available for the research findings presentation only. The interactive workshop will be held exclusively in person.
If you are interested in attending the findings presentation virtually, please contact Erika Contreras at erika@fsfinstitute.net.
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For additional questions about the event, please contact Jennifer Kelly at jennifer@fsfinstitute.net.