WATSONVILLE, Calif. – Tour de Fresh riders are gearing up for a beautiful three-day ride through the central coast of California, which takes place July 25-27 prior to PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo. Presented by the California Giant Foundation, Tour de Fresh has a goal to raise at least $150,000 by the event, which will provide at least 50 schools with salad bars in support of the United Fresh Start Foundation and the Lets Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative.
This year’s ride proves to be one of the most exciting yet with the addition of eight-time Tour de France rider, Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team Owner/Director, and Olympic Bronze Medalist Axel Merckx, who will ride on July 26 to support the cause. Additionally, each rider will have tracking devices, thanks to sponsor Locus Traxx / Emerson, so that anyone is able to track in real-time where a rider is during each day of the tour.
To date, riders have raised $93,000 and are focused on raising the remaining $57,000 by July 27, which gives the industry, friends and family, and supporting companies the opportunity to support in a big way over the next month. Donations can be made on the Riders page of the Tour de Fresh website.
“We’re always pleased to see the industry, family, and friends step up in the final weeks prior to the event to help us reach our goal,” said Cindy Jewell, vice president of marketing for California Giant Berry Farms and The California Giant Foundation. “People know how much good comes from putting salad bars in schools now that they’ve seen the results from the last four years of Tour de Fresh’s efforts – it’s hard not to be a part of something this impactful.”
“We’re proud to be a part of something that does so much good in local communities across the country,” said John Frey, vice president of sales at Tsamma Watermelon. “There’s a generosity that this industry has, unlike any other, that is infectious because so many of us are able to say that we’ve personally contributed to the health and well-being of children all over the country – that’s incredibly rewarding.”
Along with local media and city officials, friends and family are invited to join the Official Finish Line Ceremony on July 27 at approximately 2:00pm at Wharf Marketplace in Monterey, Calif. The ceremony, made possible by sponsors Taniumura & Antle, CHEP, Locus Traxx/Emerson, Pajaro Valley Fresh, and Renaissance Food Group, will welcome back cyclists from their three-day ride and celebrate the efforts of the industry and riders by presenting a check with final fundraising results. To attend, please RSVP by July 14.
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.
To donate to Tour de Fresh, or for more information, please visit www.tourdefresh.com or contact Beth Atkinson at batkinson@dma-solutions.com.
# # #
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
