Our monthly summary of how you can make the most of your Whole Grains Council membership.

WGC March 2016 Member Newsletter
Dear Whole Grains Council members,

Were you among the 54 million people who saw the article titled "Stay Healthy: Eat the Grainbow" in the February 26 issue of Parade Magazine? Oldways Whole Grains Council Program Manager Kelly Toups (who's also our staff dietitian) was extensively quoted in the article, as was Nicola McKeown, PhD, one of the WGC's Scientific Advisors. We love the opportunity to get our whole grains message in front of so many people. (Hot tip: If you read the article online, make sure to click on Launch Gallery to see all the great grain-by-grain content.)
Promote your WG Products on
#SampleWholeGrains Day - March 30th

March 30 is Whole Grain Sampling Day around the world - the perfect day for you to showcase your delicious lineup of whole grain products. It's not too late to stimulate sales with a special coupon or create buzz with a giveaway. 

If you are planning a Whole Grain Sampling Day event that's not listed on our site, get in touch with Kelly at kelly@oldwayspt.org ASAP and she will add it to our list and to our interactive map. To be a part of the conversation, be sure to use the hashtag #SampleWholeGrains, and feel free to incorporate some of our ready made graphics into your promotions. We are also hosting a Twitter Party that day from 2:00-3:00 pm ET, so jump in and join us at @oldwayspt with #SampleWholeGrains. If you'd like to learn more about the Twitter Party, or prep some of the Tweets ahead of time, Kelly can share more information on that also.
Join us at the next WGC conference:
"Whole Grains Away From Home" 

Save the dates of September 25-27, 2016, when the Oldways Whole Grains Council will be holding its next conference. It's titled "Whole Grains Away From Home," and increasing the momentum of whole grains in foodservice will be a major focus. Now's the time to start making plans to join us in Chicago:
  • Mark the date on your calendar and plan to attend. We'll be opening our registration website in early April (we'll send you a special email, so you'll know), and as always, the first registration from each WGC member company is free!
  • Check out our preliminary agenda. We'll be showcasing a great mix of useful topics, and offering plenty of networking opportunities. See how it all works.
  • Sponsor our conference, to give your company extra visibility. Sponsorships range from $5,000 to $35,000, with benefits for each level described here.
  • Call us to tell us what you're doing in foodservice and how the WGC can help drive your efforts forward.
Contact Cynthia Harriman (cynthia@oldwayspt.org or 617-896-4820) with any questions about the conference, or if you'd like to brainstorm about whole grains in foodservice.
Harley's Tip: Sell Your Grains & Flour on the WGC Site!

Harley Songin, who heads up our Whole Grain Stamp program and handles WGC member service, offers a monthly tip for getting the most out of your WGC membership.

March Tip: We can help both consumers and manufacturers find your "plain grains" and flours more easily, on the WGC website. Our "Mail Order Grains" list is the place to promote whole grains and whole grain flours you sell directly to consumers, in smaller quantities. If you're selling grains and flours by the bag, tote, or container-load as ingredients for whole grain food manufacturers, our "Wholesale Ingredients" list will suit you best. Here's a link to the page that tells you how to get your products posted on either (or both!) of these sourcing lists. Remember, intact whole grains and whole grain flours only.

Contact Harley (harley@oldwayspt.org or 617-896-4832) with any questions about Stamp usage or membership. This is a good time to remind all your staff of the many benefits of membership, beyond usage of the Whole Grain Stamp.
WG Research Award to Rui Hai Liu

Hearty congratulations to WGC Scientific Advisor Rui Hai Liu, who has been recognized by the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) for his two decades of research exploring the role whole grains play in human health. On April 3, Dr. Liu will receive the 2016 General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition Innovation Award. (How fitting that both a WGC member company and a WGC advisor are involved!) Dr. Liu is widely known for his pioneering research showing that the antioxidants in whole grains had previously been underestimated by nearly 90 percent. "Wisdom had it at that the bulk of antioxidants were consumed from fruits and vegetables in the diet. No one thought to eat grains for antioxidant benefits until then," said Liu in a media interview.
Reach out to Supermarket Dietitians

For this year's Whole Grain Sampling Day, we've helped arrange and promote whole grain samplings in at least 61 supermarkets - a testament to Oldways' great connections with supermarket dietitians. Supermarket dietitians are the new rock stars of the food world, because of their unparalleled ability to steer consumers toward healthier foods right at the point of sale. 

If your company is interested in connecting with supermarket dietitians, Oldways can help in three ways:
  • Read your WGC member newsletter every month, so you won't miss out on our next "supermarket matchmaking" opportunity. Contact Kelly Toups to make sure you're in the loop.
  • Take part in our annual Supermarket Dietitian Symposium. This year's event is happening in New Orleans this coming week, with 59 supermarket dietitians exchanging ideas with each (and with our sponsors). Contact Georgia Orcutt to learn how you can be a sponsor in 2017.
  • Can't wait for next year's WG Sampling Day and Symposium? Lucky for you, we have a year-round option. List your company in the Oldways Nutrition Exchange ONE-Stop Directory, a hub for interchange between food companies and health professionals. Contact Deborah Plunkett for more information about costs and benefits.
Cynthia Harriman
Director of Food and Nutrition Strategies
cynthia@oldwayspt.org

Kelly Toups, MLA, RD, LDN
Program Manager
kelly@oldwayspt.org

Harley Songin
Stamp Program Manager
harley@oldwayspt.org

... and from all of the Oldways and Whole Grains Council staff
Oldways is a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization inspiring good health through cultural food traditions and lifestyles. The Oldways Whole Grains Council is only one of our many successful programs. Check out our website to learn more. 
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