Tour de Fresh Announces School Districts To Benefit From 2018 Ride

WATSONVILLE, Calif. – Tour de Fresh, presented by The California Giant Foundationis pleased to announce the four school districts that will benefit from this year’s ride in conjunction with the Salad Bars to Schools program. Each of the school districts chosen is on the waiting list to receive multiple salad bars for their districts. 

Tour de Fresh riders will raise money for at least 10 salad bars in the following districts:

  • Vista Unified School District (CA)
  • Pueblo City Schools (CO)
  • Laredo Independent School District (TX)
  • Fairfax County Public Schools (VA)

“I’m humbled and honored to be a part of something so special to benefit the students of Laredo, Texas,” said Robert Cuellar, Child Nutrition Program Director from Laredo Independent School District. “My goal is to bring more balanced nutrition to these students’ lives since so many of their meals happen while in school. Having salad bars would create an opportunity to teach about fruits and vegetables, and offer them choices that they may not have at home.”

The four key regions selected have each requested a total of 106 salad bars and each serves communities with low-income families. Industry leaders, riders as well as family and friends of riders will have the chance to make an impact by supporting a cause that has raised more than $600,000 to provide salad bars to schools across the United States.

“Tour de Fresh offers a unique opportunity for industry members to support a cause that we all passionately care about,” said Helena Beckett, Senior Director of VMI and Delivered Sales at Tanimura & Antle and Tour de Fresh steering committee member. “This year, we hope to make a bigger splash by engaging riders and supporters to help bring salad bars to children in these four communities. We have a chance to help these schools offer a variety of fresh, nutritious choices every day. It’s extremely motivating and humbling.”

Opportunities to join confirmed sponsors – AmericoldAnd Now U KnowCalifornia Giant Berry Farms,CHEPChurch Brothers FarmsCrunch Pak, Coosemans WorldwideDMA SolutionsEBX Logistics,EmersonFight Like a Girl FoundationFruit Growers Supply, JAZZ AppleMann Packing, Mission ProduceOkanagan Specialty Fruits, Pajaro Valley Fresh, Produce Marketing Association,Renaissance Food GroupSakata SeedTaylor Farms, Tanimura & AntleTsamma and Western Precooling are now available.

To make a difference and be a part of this noteworthy cause, please visit www.tourdefresh.com or contact the Tour de Fresh team directly at tdf@calgiant.com.

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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 four-day cycling event that raises funds to benefit the Salad Bars to Schools campaign. In its first four years (2014-2017), Tour de Fresh placed more than 180 salad bars in schools across the country. Sponsors and participants alike strongly believe that providing healthy eating opportunities for school children should be a requirement, which keeps this event thriving year after year.

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: Tour de Fresh