The salad bars are made possible by Tour de Fresh, a collaborative cycling event that unites produce industry leaders and top brands to benefit the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, founded in part by the United Fresh Start Foundation. Enza Zaden, a global leader in vegetable seed breeding and a strong proponent of the power of healthy food, was a first-time Tour de Fresh participant and Premier Sponsor of the challenging three-day ride from Napa to Monterrey, California. With the generous support of their grower partners, principally Village Farms, Lakeside Produce, Windset Farms, Wholesum Harvest and Sunset Produce, Team Enza was a leading partner of the Tour de Fresh event, which helped raise over $157,000, ensuring more than 50 new schools will receive a salad bar this year.
“The goals of Tour de Fresh are a natural fit for our company and for our growers, as we work together to deliver premium vegetables and fruits to the US market. Children with greater access to fresh produce, and with greater awareness of its benefits, will become healthier adults. That’s a win-win for all of us,” said Freek Knol, National Sales Manager, Enza Zaden USA, and one of the cyclists in the Tour de Fresh.
Team Enza thanks The California Giant Foundation for the invitation to be part of such a worthwhile event. “It’s not every day that you embark on a 275-mile bike ride. Event organizers helped ensure we were well-prepared for the challenge, and along with all produce industry leaders who participated, we are very appreciative of the opportunity to make a healthy difference for kids across the country,” said Kees Rodenburg, Senior Sales Manager for Heated Crops, Enza Zaden USA, and a Tour de Fresh cyclist.
To date, Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools has facilitated the donation of 4,800 salad bars across the United States, through strategic partnerships and events, such as the Tour de Fresh. Presently, there are more than 400 schools on the Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools waiting list.