WATSONVILLE, Calif. – Tour de Fresh, presented by The California Giant Foundation, celebrates the fifth year of fresh produce companies coming together to support a national movement through the Salad Bars to Schools program with a new ride route, new jersey design and a finish line festival. As part of the commemoration, Tour de Fresh is recognizing five individuals and eight sponsors for their steadfast commitment to this cause since day one.
Since inception, the following industry leaders have stood behind The California Giant Foundation to pledge their support for this honorable cause. The five Legacy Riders who have trekked nearly 1,000 miles and together have raised $83,700 since joining Tour de Fresh include:
· Mike Deusebio, west coast operations at C & S riding for Lipman Produce
· Adam Linder, strategic account manager at CHEP
· Jeff Church, vice president of sales at Church Brothers
· Raina Nelson, vice president of sales at Renaissance Food Group
· Ray Connelly, riding for EBX Logistics
“Tour de Fresh is truly a movement that marries the passions each individual in this industry possesses – agriculture, nutrition, and the future generations,” said Jeff Church, vice president of sales at Church Brothers “Throwing in a secondary passion of cycling is the cherry on top of this cause as we’re accomplishing major strides when we fundraise for these salad bars. I’m honored to have the opportunity to participate in Tour de Fresh the past five years and look forward to the next five!”
Sponsors including Tsamma, Church Brothers, Pajaro Valley Fresh, Sakata Seeds, Renaissance Food Group, And Now U Know, CHEP, and Tanimura & Antle have shown unwavering support since the beginning and look forward to accomplishing more together as an industry. Additionally, Drew McDonald and Robyn and Ed Purves collectively have raised $43,000 for Tour de Fresh as a part of their dedication to this cause over the years.
There is still an opportunity to join this year’s confirmed sponsors, which include –Americold, And Now U Know, California Giant Berry Farms, CHEP, Church Brothers Farms, Crunch Pak, Coosemans Worldwide, DMA Solutions, Duda Farm Fresh Foods,EBX Logistics, Emerson, Fight Like a Girl Foundation, Fruit Growers Supply, iTrade Network, JAZZ Apple, Mann Packing, Mission Produce, Okanagan Specialty Fruits,Pajaro Valley Fresh, ProAct, Produce Marketing Association, Renaissance Food Group,Sakata Seed, Taylor Farms, Tanimura & Antle, Tsamma, Western Precooling and Zespri.
To make a difference and be a part of this noteworthy cause, please visitwww.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
