largest school nutrition programs in the country. A second session, led by the Polar King team, connected those program-growth strategies directly back to the infrastructure that makes them possible: reliable cold storage that keeps inventory protected and service running smoothly, no matter what's happening with supply chains or staffing. A visit to Kuehnert Dairy Farms, hosted by American Dairy Association Indiana, gave attendees a rare view into where their dairy products originate — reinforcing just how critical it is that every link in the cold chain, from farm to freezer to cafeteria line, holds up to the same standard. It's a reminder that equipment decisions don't happen in isolation; they affect food quality and safety at every stage. An Investment in School Nutrition Leaders Every element of the symposium was designed to make this knowledge accessible: participants earned CEUs for each educational session attended, and travel costs were fully covered through a scholarship provided by NxtGen Network. There was no sales pressure and no expectation to purchase — just an opportunity to learn from experts, see Polar King's manufacturing process up close, and evaluate whether Polar King is the right fit for their district's specific needs. A riverboat cruise on night two gave attendees more time to connect and network, offering a relaxed way to unwind after a full day of learning. For the K-12 foodservice leaders who attended, the symposium delivered a clear takeaway: Polar King's combination of durable, American-made construction, decades of industry experience, and a genuine commitment to educating (not just selling to) school nutrition professionals makes it a cold storage partner districts can trust to solve the challenges they're facing today — and the ones still ahead. Polar King is hosting 2 symposiums in 2027 — be on the lookout for more information soon!
S chool nutrition programs across the country are facing the same pressures at once: rising costs, product and labor shortages, and unpredictable delivery timelines. The Polar King Summit City Symposium, hosted this past June in Fort Wayne, Indiana, gave K-12 foodservice decision- makers a firsthand look at how Polar King's outdoor refrigerated solutions are built to meet those challenges head-on — and why more districts are choosing Polar King as their cold storage partner. Attendees toured Polar King's 251,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, where every walk-in cooler, freezer, and refrigerated trailer is built with seamless, American- made fiberglass construction. For foodservice leaders who've dealt
with equipment failures, delayed repairs, or units that can't hold up to outdoor conditions, the tour offered concrete proof of Polar King's 40+ years of durability and craftsmanship — and a clear answer to the question of why fiberglass construction matters for districts that need equipment to perform, season after season, without fail. Education sessions gave attendees more than product information — they walked away with strategies they can put to work immediately, fueled by morning coffee courtesy of symposium sponsor Java House. Angie Kasselakis, MPA, RDN, SHRM-SCP, Food and Nutrition Officer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, led a session on engaging students and growing program participation, drawing on her experience running one of the
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