WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 15 salad bars are coming to schools in the Salinas/Monterey County area, thanks to the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California (GSA). Last weekend at the 74th Annual GSA Golf Tournament and Gala Events, Association Chairwoman Margaret D’Arrigo-Martin, Taylor Farms, and produce industry leaders raised more than $43,000 to support the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation’s More Produce in Schools Program and United Fresh Produce Association Foundation’s campaign to place salad bars in schools across the country.
“This year’s Dinner Dance and Fashion Show were a great success, not only in providing a fun time for industry members but in helping ensure that students in the surrounding area will have access to fresh, local produce everyday as part of their school lunch,” D’Arrigo-Martin said. “I’m thrilled with the support from so many people to bring salad bars to local schools, and support nutrition education and training for students and school staff.”
D’Arrigo-Martin has made it her priority to guide the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation’s programming this year to promote increased access and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in schools, as part of a new initiative led by the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation, “More Produce in Schools.”
Tom Stenzel, United Fresh President & CEO, was on hand at this weekend’s GSA events to support the local industry efforts. “I really want to thank Margaret and all the members and staff of the Grower-Shipper Association and the GSA Foundation for their commitment,” he said. “It’s great for our two associations to work together supporting a cause that’s a win-win for our industry, and our children. With many schools in California requesting salad bars, there’s plenty of opportunity for more companies, associations and other groups to follow GSA’s lead, and get involved to bring salad bars to more schools.”
Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools was developed to raise the visibility of salad bars as an effective strategy for increasing children’s produce consumption at school. The program supports First Lady Michele Obama’s broader Let’s Move! initiative to solve childhood obesity within a generation. To date, more than 1,600 salad bars have been donated to schools through Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools.
The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation’s “More Produce in Schools” program is a new initiative focused on finding solutions to the national obesity epidemic by focusing on avenues to bring more produce into schools. Nationwide, schools are facing new regulations regarding how much produce they must serve, and this program is working with Central Coast of California-area school foodservice directors and grower-shippers to find solutions.
The GSA salad bar donations are made possible by the generous contributions of the following companies and other event attendees: NH3 Service Company, Pro*Act, Green Gate Fresh, Dole Fresh Vegetables, Taylor Farms, Church Brothers, R.C. Farms, Johnson, Moncrief & Hunt, PLC, Tanimura & Antle and Three Star Lettuce.
For more information about Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools or More Produce in Schools, and to learn how your company can get involved, contact United Fresh policy and grassroots manager, Andrew Marshall at (202) 303-3407 or Abby Taylor-Silva of the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation at (831) 422-9007.
Let's Move 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. Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools supports First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. Founding partners are: United Fresh Produce Association Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, Food Family Farming Foundation, and Whole Foods Market. More information can be found online at www.saladbars2schools.org.
The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation is dedicated to providing the public factual and educational information about the agricultural industry. The Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, public-benefit organization is dedicated to providing the public factual and educational information about the agricultural industry. The Foundation is devoted to giving back to the community it serves. This non-profit organization helps support local educational, training, scholarship and leadership programs, community outreach and philanthropic endeavors.
The United Fresh Foundation is the United Fresh Produce Association’s 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization designed to help meet the public’s need for healthy, high quality, safe and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables. Through its Center for Nutrition and Health, the Foundation is devoted to enhancing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables through environmental change and public policy, and industry commitment to charitable endeavors. The Center is working to double the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by American children, helping to end childhood obesity in the next generation.
Source: Grower-Shipper Association Foundation & United Fresh Foundation