Oxnard, CA – Bicycles lined up at the Deardorff Family Farms facility on Wednesday morning as the 40 Tour de Fresh riders stretched, watered up, and enjoyed their first meal of the day before starting off on the 50 mile ride from Oxnard to Santa Monica in the third leg of the journey.
Looking confident, strong, and united with their Tour de Fresh gear and commitment to helping children have more healthy food options in schools, the riders passionately shared about the successful yet challenging ride so far.
Tom Deardorff II, President of Deardorff Family Farms and one of the riders, spoke to the likeness of the challenging ride with the challenges farmers and produce companies face with educating and supporting our young generation on the importance of healthy eating and making sure that schools across our country can offer these healthy food options to their students
Sandy Curwood, Director of Child Nutrition at the Conejo Valley School District in Thousand Oaks, attended the event with her staff to accept a new salad bar that will be used this Friday for the first time at Sequoia Middle School in Newbury Park, CA.
She expressed her gratitude and realization that seeing everyone there brought it home in knowing that her schools and students have the support of the community.
“The implementation of farm to school salad bars is a great help to providing fresh, seasonal produce for CVUSD students. We are grateful to Deardorff Family Farms and the Tour de Fresh for making this happen.”
Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) addressed the group, offering his thanks and encouragement to the produce industry in our efforts to continue the fight towards lowering childhood obesity rates.
The Tour de Fresh finishes in Anaheim on Thursday, just in time for the start of the PMA’s Fresh Summit Convention.
Source: Deardorff Family Farms