The United Fresh Foundation launched Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools, a new multi-year campaign to increase children’s produce consumption by donating salad bars to schools in six Midwest states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

United Fresh announced the campaign at its Winter Leadership Meeting in Miami, and introduced 12 Midwest produce industry leaders who will co-chair the campaign:

• Illinois: Lisa J. Strube, Strube Celery & Vegetable Co.; Rebecca Wilson, The Tom Lange Co. Inc.
• Indiana: Bob Kirch, Caito Foods Service Inc.; Hilary B. Martin, Frey Farms
• Michigan: Mark Girardin, North Bay Produce Inc.; Harold Van Eerden, Van Eerden Co.
• Minnesota: Phillip Brooks, H. Brooks & Co.; Jason Craig, C.H. Robinson
• Ohio: Ken Holthouse, Doug Walcher Farms; Joe Klare, Castellini Co. LLC
• Wisconsin: Larry A. Alsum, Alsum Farms & Produce Inc.; Steve Jarzombek, Roundy's Supermarkets Inc.

Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools is a multi-year campaign supporting United’s 2014, 2015 and 2016 conventions, which will be co-located with the Food Marketing Institute conventions in Chicago. The new Midwest campaign builds on the momentum of United’s successful salad bar campaigns in New Orleans, Texas and California, which donated salad bars to 50, 100 and 436 schools respectively. The salad bars highlight the produce industry’s commitment to improving child nutrition and combating childhood obesity.

The campaign co-chairs will engage produce industry colleagues, allied industries and foundations to support salad bars for Midwest schools. Over the last three years more than 400 Midwest schools have received salad bars from Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools, and the goal of United’s Midwest campaign is to provide salad bars to all Midwest schools that want them.

“Donating salad bars to schools is a win-win,” Craig said in a press release. “C.H. Robinson has donated salad bars to schools over the last three years and has seen firsthand that salad bars are a key strategy for getting kids excited to eat more fruits and vegetables.”

“I’ve seen the success of United’s salad bar campaign and I’m looking forward to promoting salad bars and more fresh fruits and veggies to schools throughout the Midwest,” said Strube.

“Schools are a growing segment of our business and we’re pleased to support strategies that increase students’ access and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables," Kirch added in the release. "We think school salad bars are great way to educate students about making healthy choices.”

“Our children are our future, and it’s critically important they have access to healthy fresh fruits and veggies every day, said Girardin.  “Students spend a majority of their time in school and we need to ensure fresh produce is readily available in school breakfast, lunch and snack programs.  Salad bars place a focus on our healthy products and are an excellent tool for teaching children about the importance of making half their plate fruits and veggies.”

“We’re always looking for ways to tell our story and connect with consumers about where their food comes from and that’s especially true when it comes to our children," Holthouse said. "If we can educate our kids from a young age, create excitement around produce and give them an experience that allows them to make their own fruit and veggie choices from a school salad bar each day, we’ll move the dial on produce consumption.”

“School programs that encourage kids to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables benefit our produce departments,” said Jarzombek. “We’re excited about the new Midwest salad bar campaign and the opportunity to benefit schools in the communities we serve.”

Let’s Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools is a special campaign of the United Fresh Foundation, a founding partner of the national Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools initiative, which supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s broader Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation.

To date, salad bars have been donated to more than 2,800 schools nationwide. To learn how you can support salad bars for schools in the Midwest or in your community, contact United Fresh policy and grassroots manager, Andrew Marshall at 202/303-3407, [email protected] or visit http://www.unitedfresh.org/saladbars.