United Fresh 2014 To Feature Silent Auction For Custom Racing Bike

WASHINGTON, DC – Attendees at United Fresh 2014 will have the opportunity to meet participants in the inaugural Tour de Fresh and submit a bid to win a brand new customized racing bike, The 2014 Specialized Tarmac SL4 Sport, courtesy of the Tour de Fresh. Individuals interested in submitting a bid must visit the Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools booth (Booth # 2482) on the expo floor, adjacent to the United Fresh Membership Booth, at United Fresh 2014 in Chicago.

Attendees in Chicago at United Fresh 2014 will be eligible to submit a bid and win the bike.  The goal of the auction is to raise funds to donate one or more salad bars, as part of the United Fresh Foundation’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools campaign. Tour de Fresh organizers are also offering the winning bidder the opportunity to drive along the Tour de Fresh route with the riders.   

The Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools booth will feature signage recognizing salad bar supporters, as well as a computer where individuals can donate to Tour de Fresh riders and submit their bid for the bike or car ride.

“We are so proud to be a sponsor of this event and have Anthony Gallino ride on our behalf to support salad bars for schools.  We are also pleasantly surprised at the strong level of industry support shown already for this group 275-mile ride in October.  We hope to see that level of support continue to translate into more dollars raised for salad bars on the show floor in Chicago next month,” said Cindy Jewell, Director of Marketing, California Giant Berry Farms.

The goal of Let's Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools is to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption by donating salad bars to schools in six Midwest states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Let's Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools is a special campaign of the United Fresh Foundation, under the umbrella of the national Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative. Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools continues the United Fresh Foundation’s tradition of benefitting children and schools in the region of the country hosting our annual convention, which will be in Chicago in 2014-2016. The United Fresh Foundation, a founding partner of the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, works with the produce industry, foundations, allied organizations, and others to support school salad bars.  More information is available at www.unitedfresh.org/saladbars.

“I look forward to riding in the upcoming Tour de Fresh and making a difference to support increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption. Salad bars are popular with students and make it easy for schools to serve a wide variety of healthy, fresh produce. I encourage all attendees at the upcoming United Fresh convention to support the Tour de Fresh and enter to win a great new bike at this auction in Chicago,” said Jeff Oberman, Vice President, Trade Relations, United Fresh.

Founded in 1998, the United Fresh Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization committed to meeting the public’s needs for an abundant supply of healthy, safe and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables.  The Foundation is dedicated to increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to children as a critical step in combating childhood obesity and launching a lifetime of healthy choices.  To assist industry members in meeting these goals, the Foundation offers educational programs, leadership development, public outreach, and industry training through four different Centers — Center for Leadership Excellence, Center for Nutrition and Health, Center for Food Safety and Quality, and Center for Global Produce Sustainability.  For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.

The 2014 Tour de Fresh is a 4-day cycling ride along the beautiful California coast that will benefit the United Fresh Foundation’s, Let's Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools campaign. The race will occur October 13-16, 2014.  More information available at www.tourdefresh.com.

Source: United Fresh Foundation