Okanagan Specialty Fruits and Vegetables by Bayer Donate Salad Bar to Soledad High School; Andrew Marshall, Don Westcott, and More

MONTEREY, CA - Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF) and Vegetables by Bayer (VBB) joined forces to introduce new, healthy options at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Foodservice Conference through the use of a salad bar that will be donated to a local high school.

OSF showcased their Arctic® non-browning apples at the salad bar during the show, offering visitors a firsthand look at how these apples deliver on their name — and on the promise of “More Apples in More Places,” such as in schools, on salad bars, offered as sliced snacks or versatile diced.

VBB promoted “Veggies are a Vibe” and highlighted vegetables from their extensive seed portfolio, including tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, and carrots. Attendees at the show were also able to experience the latest kid-friendly produce innovations, such as broccoli chips, made possible by Bayer, alongside others in the produce industry.

“The IFPA Foodservice Conference is the perfect location to announce this donation,” said Andrew Marshall, who leads the association’s wholesaler-distributor partnerships as well as IFPA’s national engagement with the K-12 school nutrition community. “At the conference, we organize a special programming track to connect school menu planners with the produce industry, all focused on ways to expand the variety of fresh fruit and vegetables available to children at school. By highlighting this salad bar donation at the conference, we are not only recognizing the Soledad School District for their efforts to elevate their menu with fresh, produce-forward meals, but we’re also looking to inspire other school attendees and have them see, without a doubt, that salad bars are a visual representation of healthy school meals.”

The salad bar donation will benefit students at Soledad High School, the largest high school in South Monterey County, CA, which serves grades 9 to 12. The salad bar will also support the school’s ability to meet USDA nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program, which requires offering a colorful variety of produce choices throughout the week. The Soledad Unified School District also hired a new school foodservice director last year, Gabriel Ruelas, to help transition their meal programs to more scratch-made foods that can take advantage of the fresh produce from the surrounding area, and which will soon be included in the new salad bar.

“We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation of a new salad bar for Soledad High School. This contribution directly supports our Food Services Department’s ongoing efforts to increase daily access to and consumption of a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables for our students,” said Sarah Doherty, Chief Business Officer for Soledad Unified School District. “Partnerships like this play a vital role in promoting student health and well-being, helping us foster lifelong healthy habits across our school community.”

This new addition marks an exciting expansion for the district's meal program. Currently, each school site already has one salad bar in place, and the district has seen a clear positive impact from offering fresh, healthy options. At the high school, where approximately 900 students are served during a single 30-minute lunch period, the introduction of this new, second salad bar will double the availability of fresh selections and make it easier for students to enjoy nutritious choices within the limited time allotted for lunch.

“Fresh produce should be the norm — not the exception — in school meals,” explains Don Westcott, president of OSF, in the recent release. “School salad bars can empower students to make healthy choices, expose them to a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, and help to create lifelong healthy eating habits. We’re proud to support the Soledad School District’s efforts to offer more fresh options, and to also provide Arctic® apples, which help schools reduce waste and prep time without sacrificing quality.”

The donation will enable students to select their own fruits and vegetables each day from the diverse options available at the salad bar, including some produce options they might not otherwise have access to at home. When students have control over what they eat, they're more likely to choose healthy options, especially when those options are colorful, fresh, and varied.

“It’s always exciting to showcase our latest vegetable innovations at the IFPA Foodservice Conference, but what makes this year even more meaningful is this school collaboration,” says Jenny Maloney, director of industry relations for Bayer Vegetable Seeds. “Supporting schools that are committed to increasing kids’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables is at the heart of what we do — and it’s a powerful reminder of the impact healthy food can have on the next generation.”

This salad bar donation post-conference not only highlights OSF and VBB’s commitment to nutrition education and lifelong wellness but will empower students to take charge of their health by making informed, healthier food choices. Both OSF and VBB are proud champions of healthy eating and increasing produce consumption – especially among kids.