WATSONVILLE, CA - Tour de Fresh sponsorships are filling up fast as the program gains traction and viewership, with sponsorships for 2015’s event having garnered 51 million media impressions.
“It’s amazing to see brands, both in and outside of the fresh produce industry, step up in support of our riders who spend months training and raising money to make a school’s wish come true,” Cindy Jewell, VP of Marketing for California Giant Berry Farms, said in a press release, commenting, “This event is incredibly personal to our industry because it offers an opportunity for us to invest in our mission to feed the next generation more fresh fruits and vegetables.”
This year’s ride takes place July 26-28 from Napa Valley to Monterey, California, with riders from the industry finishing off more than 150 miles by riding into the PMA Foodservice Conference. Below is a video from last October's ride from North Carolina to Georgia:
The event, which seeks to raise enough money to place salad bars in schools across the U.S. and promote produce consumption, has successfully placed more than 100 salad bars since its inception in 2014.
CarrieAnn Arias, Vice President of Marketing with Dole Fresh Vegetables, commented that the company is thrilled to participate in and sponsor an event much like its own produce Get Up and Grow! Together™ campaign, adding, “We also appreciate that Tour de Fresh offers social opportunities for our team to encourage our riders and the event as a whole."
With placements in more than 300 digital and print publications last year, this promotes not only a good cause and industry growth, but a key promotional opportunity according to Tour de Fresh Steering Committee, who is encouraging brands to take advantage of the limited number of sponsorships still available to support the event.
Confirmed sponsors include:
- Pajaro Valley Fresh
- PMA Foundation
- Renaissance Food Group
- Sakata Seed America, Inc.
- SunFed
- Specialty Produce
- Tanimura & Antle
- The Wharf Marketplace
- Tsamma
- United Fresh
- Watsonville Coast Produce
- Western Precooling
- AndNowUKnow
- California Giant Berry Farms
- CHEP
- Dole Fresh Vegetables
- Duda Farm Fresh Foods
- EBX Logistics
- Evolution Fresh
- Hort Americas
- Interfresh
- iTrade Network
- Lipman
Paula Onofrino of the Martinez Unified School District in Martinez, California, which has received four salad bars through Tour de Fresh donations, said that they have done so much more for the district than she could have ever imagined. “My lunch staff is feeling inspired to get creative with cooking fresher meals because they’re seeing the excitement that our students have when the salad bar is full of new, fresh options.”
Tour de Fresh offers companies a number of options to participate and promote, including sampling stations to provide fresh energy-packed snacks along the tour route, and so much more.
To join the growing list before all spots are taken, visit www.tourdefresh.com or contact Brock Nemecek at [email protected].
