We’re moving ahead with plans for our next Whole Grains Council conference, taking place October 17-19, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. We’ve just passed our next milestone: online registration is now open to anyone who would like to attend. Early Bird pricing is in effect through the end of August, so register today.

Full details (and registration) can be accessed by clicking here. We’ve got a great program planned. Lively speakers will inspire and motivate you, while serving up the specifics you need now, to be part of the whole grains revolution. You’ll get insights you can use in your work from the day you return!

Here are just a few previews:

Whole Grains, from the White House to Your House. Susan Roberts, a Fellow at the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), will explain how the First Lady’s Let’s Move program is encouraging whole grains – and how PHA is working directly with companies and institutions to change the food environment. (Psssst… possible guest appearance of Sam Kass, White House Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives.)

The History of White Bread. Aaron Bobrow-Strain, noted food policy historian from Whitman College and author of the book White Bread, will explain how Americans have swung back and forth between championing white bread and whole grain bread, and what these pendulum swings can tell us about the bigger picture of food policy and attitudes.

What is Whole Grain Rich? Eileen Ferruggiaro, of USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service, will explain the important new rules that require at least half of all grains served in school lunches to be “whole grain rich.”

5 Keys to the Whole Grain Consumer. Batool Batalvi, consumer strategy psychologist, will present key insights on the differences between the whole grain consumer and the refined grain consumer – and how this information can change the way you market your whole grain products.

To complement our four information-packed speaker sessions, we’ll allow plenty of time for networking among our participants, who will include marketing and R&D experts from food companies, health professionals, government policymakers, and the media. Click here to learn more about who should attend – and who has attended past WGC conferences.

At meals and breaks, we’ll practice what we preach by putting delicious whole grains on every plate – and we’ll even liven up events with a quick line-dancing lesson our second night! We hope we’ll see you there — deep in the heart of Texas! (Cynthia)