WATSONVILLE, Calif. – This year’s Tour de Fresh event continued to break records to bring more support to Salad Bars to Schools than ever before. Year four’s starting leg of the race began with the $150,000 goal being surpassed – a first in Tour de Fresh history.
While this ride presented many up-hill battles, including the scorching California heat, raising funds to get more fresh fruits and vegetables in front of the younger generation was not one of them. Riders rode into the finish line at The Wharf Marketplace to be greeted by family and friends for the check presentation of $165,096 that will donate at least 52 salad bars.
“I am blown away by the unwavering support shown by every rider, industry member, friends and family involved in this year’s event,” said Cindy Jewell, vice president of marketing for California Giant Berry Farms. “I hope to replicate the unity and success of this year for rides to come – I couldn’t be more proud!”
Abiding in tradition, the yellow jersey ceremony took place after the conclusion of the ride each day to commemorate good sportsmanship. Yellow jerseys were awarded to individuals, nominated by their peers, who went above and beyond to support their fellow riders.
This year’s events proposed its own set of difficulties with Mother Nature interfering with the initial route for the race, but encouragement from Olympic cyclists Ina-Yoko Teutenberg and Axel Merckx helped riders endure the alternate, most-challenging course yet. New this year, tracking devices donated by Locus Traxx/Emerson provided family members an opportunity to keep track of their riders and gave riders an opportunity to partake in friendly competitions.
“Never did I doubt that our industry would come together to support this outstanding cause, but I am pleasantly surprised at the leadership this group has shown,” said Tom Stenzel, CEO and president of the United Fresh Produce Association. “The ownership in stepping up to continue the work that the Let’s Move! Initiative started has been an amazing movement to be a part of.”
To date, Tour de Fresh has raised over $600,000, with the help from the United Fresh Start Foundation, to fund more than 200 salad bars. This year, salad bars will be rewarded to more than 20 school districts across the country.
Tour de Fresh would not be possible without the support of its Premier Sponsors California Giant Berry Farms, Crunch Pak, Enza Zaden, JAZZ Apples, Mission Produce, Sakata, Tanimura & Antle, Tsamma, and event sponsors Americold, And Now U Know, Arctic Apples, Baja Son,CHEP, Church Brothers, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Coosemans Worldwide, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Emerson/Locus Traxx Worldwide, EBX Logistics, Fresh Point, Fresh Produce Partners, Fruit Growers Supply, Growers Express/Green Giant, Interfresh, Lipman, Ocean Mist Farms,Okanagan Specialty Fruits, Pajaro Valley Fresh, PMA, Pro*Act, Rherig Pacific Company, Renaissance Food Group, Specialty Produce, Taylor Farms, Tessemae’s, Total Quality Logistics, Watsonville Coast Produce, Western Precooling, and Zespri.
It’s not too late to support Tour de Fresh – to donate, please visit http://www.tourdefresh.com/riders.php.
# # #
About Tour de Fresh
Tour de Fresh, presented by The California Giant Foundation, is the first-of-its-kind, collaborative event that unites the most significant brands and influencers in the fresh produce industry for a three-day cycling event that raises funds to benefit the Salad Bars to Schools campaign. In its first three years (2014-2016), Tour de Fresh received nearly $500,000 in donations to support the placement of more than 150 salad bars in schools across the country. At a cost of $3,125 per salad bar per school, sponsors and participants alike strongly believe that providing healthy eating opportunities for school children should be a requirement.
About Salad Bars to Schools
Salad Bars to Schools is a public health campaign to increase salad bars in schools across the country so that every child has the choice of healthy fruits and vegetables every day at school. Salad Bars to Schools supports former First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation. Salad Bars to Schools founding partners are: The United Fresh Start Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, the Chef Ann Foundation and Whole Kids Foundation. More information can be found online at www.saladbars2schools.org.
Source: The California Giant Foundation
