IRVING, TX & ANAHEIM, CA – Tour de Fresh has proudly announced that it has exceeded its inaugural fundraising goal and raised $124,303, which will ensure that more than 40 schools will receive salad bars through United Fresh’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools.
"At Tanimura & Antle, we believe in the Tour de Fresh mission and are dedicated to providing children with healthier eating options at school. Our riders created a weekly salad bar at our main office as part of the major fundraising efforts for this event and we have decided to continue these efforts as a company,” said Caitlin Antle Wilson from Tanimura and Antle. “Our participation in this event has brought our company together for the overall need to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables everywhere. Tour de Fresh has taught us to walk (or ride) the walk and lead by example - the lunch time salad bar works in schools and it works at our office too!"
The CDC reports that the number of obese children has tripled since 1980 and affects nearly 38 million children, according to a press release. The salad bars are meant to bring healthy food to these children at school to help them develop a lasting healthy lifestyle.
“We believe healthy eating options should be made readily available to all school age kids,” said Cindy Jewell, Director of Marketing, California Giant Berry Farms. “We are very proud of our involvement in this worthy cause to address the childhood obesity epidemic in the U.S. The salad bars will have an immediate and positive effect on students’ health, and will greatly influence their ability to establish healthy eating habits now and in the future.”
At the start of the ride, 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.
Brock Nemecek, rider and employee of DMA Solutions said, “We would like to thank all of the participants in the race, the press who have shined a spotlight on the startling situation our youth face, the companies that have donated their time and resources, as well as the public for their generous donations that allowed us to exceed our fundraising goals and provide our kids access to more fresh produce.”
The official Finish Line Ceremony and Check Donation to the United Fresh Start Foundation will be presented at 12pm at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Congratulations to all of the riders! It is great to see our industry coming together for such a great cause.
