NEW ORLEANS, La. – Almost 80,000 children throughout New Orleans now have access to a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day through new salad bars thanks to the United Fresh Foundation’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative. In a ceremony Tuesday, United Fresh commemorated the donation of salad bars to 33 schools across the city. The donation comes as the fresh fruit and vegetable industry converges on New Orleans for the 107th annual convention and expo of the United Fresh Produce Association.
“The salad bars donated this week come from produce industry members all across the United States, and are another fantastic example of our members’ commitment to providing healthier options for kids and increasing access to fresh fruit and vegetables not only in their home communities, but also for the thousands of school kids in our host city of New Orleans,” said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel.
The event, “Let’s Move Salad Bars to New Orleans Schools,” brought together local dignitaries and officials to recognize the 33 recipient schools and the 26 donor companies. Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation. United Fresh is a founding partner of the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, which has a goal of donating salad bars to 6,000 schools nationwide within the next three years. United Fresh has pioneered the nationwide adoption of school fruit and vegetable salad bars as a proven strategy for significantly increasing children’s produce consumption.
“We are elated to have been selected to be a recipient of salad bars donated by the Let’s Move Salad Bars to New Orleans Schools program,” said New Orleans Public Schools Director of Foodservice Rosie Jackson. “As a result of the donations, our students will now receive more fresh produce as well as have an opportunity to make healthier choices in their food selections. This initiative will truly enhance our overall program for our students, and show our commitment to the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative. Thanks! Thanks! On behalf of our students.”
The schools receiving salad bars are: Algiers Technology Academy, Alice M. Harte Charter School, AP Tureaud Elementary School, Believe College Prep, Bethune Elementary School, Central City Academy, Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy of Global Studies, Edna Karr Charter High School, Emily C. Watkins Elementary School, Esperanza Charter School, International School of Louisiana, International School of Louisiana – West Bank, James Weldon Johnson Elementary School, Joseph A. Craig Elementary School, Joseph Clark Senior High School, Lafayette Academy New Orleans, Lagniappe Academies, LB Landry Senior High School, McDonogh 15 Elementary School for the Creative Arts, McDonogh 28 City Park Academy, McDonogh 35 High School, McMain High School, Miller-McCoy Academy for Math and Business, New Orleans Charter Science and Math Academy, New Orleans College Prep, New Orleans College Prep Elementary School, O. Perry Walker College and Career Prep High School, Paul B. Habans Elementary School, Priestly Charter School, Renaissance High School/KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy, Sarah T. Reed High School, Sojourner Truth Academy, and William J. Fischer Accelerated Academy.
The salad bar donations are made possible through the generous sponsorship of the following companies: The Andrew Smith Company, Apio, Inc., Bonipak Produce, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, CAMBRO, Capitol City Produce, Chiquita Brands, Ciruli Brothers, Del Monte Fresh Produce, Dennis and Susi Gertmenian, DMA Solutions, Dole Food Company, DuPont Crop Protection, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Horton Fruit Company, Mann Packing Company, Marie’s, McEntire Produce, Muir Copper Canyon Farms, the National Watermelon Association, Pero Family Farms, Stemilt Growers, Taylor Farms, the Produce Exchange, the Tom Lange Company, and True Organic Products.
Today’s donation is in addition to the salad bars that the United Fresh Foundation donated to 10 New Orleans schools in the fall of 2010. Schools receiving salad bars last October are: Behrman Elementary School, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, Einstein Charter School, Harney Elementary School, Harriet Tubman Elementary School, Hynes Charter School, Laurel Elementary School, McDonogh 32 Elementary School, St. Julian Elementary School and Schaumburg Elementary School.
To date, the United Fresh Foundation has donated salad bars to more than 100 schools in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
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Founded in 1998, the United Fresh Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that offers specialized programs to meet members’ needs in educational training, leadership development, food safety outreach and industry research. Foundation programs are designed to promote knowledge, leadership and growth in the produce industry. The Foundation is an affiliate organization of the United Fresh Produce Association. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org
Source: United Fresh Foundation
