Nogales, AZ- The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) is excited to announce the dedication of salad bar equipment to San Cayetano Elementary School in Rio Rico, Arizona, as part of the Let’s Move Salad Bars 2 School (LMSB2S) program. The FPAA will be on site on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 with school representatives, members of the FPAA, and the Honorable Raul Grijalva, Elected Member to the House of Representatives from this district, to dedicate the salad bar to the San Cayetano Elementary School.
The LMSB2S program was launched in 2010 with the mission of improving access in schools to fresh fruits and vegetables for children across the U.S. Many school districts are unable to afford the basic equipment needed to successfully implement a salad bar program as part of their daily food offerings.
Research shows that incorporating salad bars into school lunches increases the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Through positive, frequent experiences with fresh produce, children can better incorporate healthy eating choices into their diets for life.
The FPAA represents U.S. companies that are involved in the growing, harvesting, and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables. The association is headquartered in Nogales, Arizona, the largest port of entry for fresh produce exported from Mexico into the United States. The donation of the salad bar was made possible through generous sponsorship from the Nogales U.S. Customs Borkers Association, and through the program, the FPAA and the Custom Brokers had previously donated a salad bar to Lincoln Elementary School in Nogales.
“As the largest private employer in Santa Cruz County, many of the families in our area are involved in selling fresh fruits and vegetables across North America. Produce is part of their daily lives,” says Lance Jungmeyer, president of the FPAA. “We feel this partnership between the LMSB2S program, the FPAA, the Nogales U.S. Customs Brokers Association, and our local school districts are an important way to bring home the importance of fresh produce for the children in our community. This is a great way to incorporate healthy eating into their diets and also to showcase the important work many of their parents do in the fresh produce industry.”
For additional information or to attend the dedication, please contact Georgina Felix at the FPAA at (520) 287-2707 or gfelix@freshfrommexico.com.
About the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas: The FPAA is a nonprofit trade association headquartered in Nogales, Arizona, that represents over 120 U.S. member companies involved in growing, packing, sales and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Mexico. The FPAA leverages the efforts of private companies and partner-associations to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetable from Mexico. The Mariposa Port of Entry located in Nogales, Arizona, is the largest port of entry for fresh produce imported into the U.S. from Mexico.
Source: The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA)