The sixth annual Tour de Fresh ride, presented by the California Giant Foundation, is set to commence in a matter of days and there is still an opportunity to support the cause ahead of PMA Fresh Summit.
Each year, nearly 50 riders embark on a four-day cycling event to raise funds benefiting the United Fresh Start Foundation, which helps to ensure every student has access to fresh fruits and vegetables through salad bars. To date, the 2019 ride has raised over $130,000 to put salad bars into schools. With the help of generous donations, Tour de Fresh seeks to surpass the 2018 total of $149,588 and provide even more fresh options for students in need.
“Another year has flown by and our highly-anticipated fundraiser Tour de Fresh is almost here,” said Cindy Jewell, vice president of marketing for the California Giant Berry Farms. “As professionals in the fresh produce industry, making sure everyone has access to fresh fruits and vegetables is at the heart of what we do and we are so proud to partner with Salad Bars to Schools to see this come to fruition.”
As of October 2019, Salad Bars to Schools received 308 requests for salad bars from schools across the U.S, which would grant more than 150,000 students access to fresh produce. Participants of the 2019 Tour de Fresh set a goal to finance at least 50 salad bars, at a cost of approximately $3,500 per bar. In order to raise the funds needed for this goal, participants are calling on the fresh produce industry, friends and family to support the cause.
There are still several opportunities to support childhood nutrition through school provided salad bars. To donate and become a part of this noteworthy cause, visit https://www.tourdefresh.com/riders/ or contact the Tour de Fresh team directly at tdf@calgiant.com.
The organizers of Tour de Fresh say the event would not be possible without the support of its generous sponsors: Americold, And Now U Know, Arctic Apples, Atlas Produce, Basil Seasonal Dining, C&S Wholesale Grocers, California Giant Berry Farms, CHEP, Church Brothers, Coosemans, DMA Solutions, Earthbound Farms, EBX Logistics, Emerson, Famous Software, Fight Like A Girl Foundation, FreshPlaza, Gold Coast Packing, Good Foods, Gusto Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza, Interfresh, iTrade Network, JAZZ Apples, Jerue Trucking, Lipman Produce, Markon, Misionero, Mission Produce, Ocean Mist Farms, Paramount Export, PRO*Act, Procurant, Produce Marketing Association, Regal Marketing, Renaissance Food Group, Sakata, Specialty Produce, SunFed Produce, Sunkist, Tat-On Inc., Taylor Farms, Total Quality Logistics (TQL), United Fresh Start Foundation, and Western Precooling.
For more information:
tdf@calgiant.com
www.tourdefresh.com/riders/