Networking Reception
đ¸ Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
đ Time: 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM CDT
đ Location: Delta Hotels (1330 Industrial Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)
đī¸ 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 in the Midwest
đ Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
đ Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT (Registration and breakfast begin at 7:45 AM CDT)
đ Location: Delta Hotels (1330 Industrial Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413)
đī¸ Cost: Free
Organized by Food Systems for the Future Institute and Midwest Dairy, this event marks the release of our report âInsights into Dairy Demand and Purchasing Decisions among Low-Income Consumers in the Midwestâ. 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:
Opening remarks by Ambassador Ertharin Cousin âFSFI CEO & Managing Director, Lela Fausze, MS, RDN, LDNâ Midwest Dairy, Vice President of Trust Partnerships and Thom Petersen â Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Remarks by Sarah Kuechle from Kuechle Dairy
An armchair conversation featuring Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, Cornell University. and Max Finberg, Vice President of Government Affairs, Chobani
Presentation by Jocelyn Boiteau PhD, FSFI Senior Nutrition Impact and Innovation Director of key findings from 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
đ¤ Speakers
Ambassador Ertharin Cousin
CEO and Managing Director, Food Systems for the Future Institute.
Lela Fausze, MS, RDN, LDN
Midwest Dairy, Vice President of Trust Partnerships
Tom Petersen
Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Sarah Kuechle
Kuechle Dairy, Eden Valley, MN
Angela Odoms-Young, PhD
Nancy Schlegel Meinig Associate Professor of Maternal and Child Nutrition in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University.
Max Finberg
Vice President of Government Affairs, Chobani
Jocelyn Boiteau
Senior Nutrition Impact and Innovation Director, Food Systems for the Future Institute
âī¸ Traveling to Minneapolis
Traveling to Minneapolis?
If you would like to stay at the Delta Hotels during the event, please contact Lisa McCann at lmccann@midwestdairy.com for hotel information and assistance.
Getting from MinneapolisâSaint Paul International Airport (MSP) to the Delta Hotels:
Light Rail (METRO Blue Line): Approximately 20â30 minutes, depending on your hotel location and any short walk from the station.
Taxi or rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Approximately 15â20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Rental car: Available at the airport if you plan to drive during your stay.
âšī¸ Frequently Asked Questions
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A recording of the research findings presentation will be available after the event. The armchair discussion and interactive workshop will be held exclusively in person.
To receive the recording, please contact Erika Contreras at erika@fsfinstitute.net.
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For additional questions about the event, please contact Jocelyn Boiteau at jocelyn@fsfinstitute.net.