UNITED STATES - You may have heard plenty of resolution pitches about eating more fruits and vegetables, but Tour de Fresh probably has them beat. This year, the ride that entertains and trains, while still managing to raise money to increase childhood produce consumption, is making its own resolution to champion the salad bars used every day. And those efforts are already turning heads in all sorts of ways.

Recently, The United Fresh Start Foundation Annual Report included a shout out to the tour among those helping to tell its story.

“Raina Nelson of Renaissance Food Group celebrates her fifth Tour de Fresh, a 275-mile bike ride that raises funds for the Foundation's Salad Bars to Schools program,” the foundation said of one of the event’s Legacy Riders, noting that the Tour de Fresh, organized by the California Giant Foundation, raised funds for over 40 salad bars in 2018.

“We are making a difference,” the Tour de Fresh team announced in an email about the credit. “We were reminded over the holiday season that while Tour de Fresh is an amazing annual ride shared by many in the produce industry, it’s not just about the ride. Each year we work, train, and volunteer together to provide kids access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Let's remember this each day as we get on the bike or work on logistics behind the scenes.”

In speaking to Cindy Jewell, Vice President of Marketing for California Giant, she shared that the United Fresh staff said for every salad bar, we feed an average of 500 kids.

"That is huge to know that, every day, 500 kids, all year long, will benefit from just one salad bar and one Tour de Fresh rider," she added. "AND we still have more than 300 schools across the country on a waiting list to get salad bars. We have work to do, so we need industry support every day, all year long."

Looking ahead, the team added that it is optimistic while knowing there is still much to be done by all involved in providing access to fruits and vegetables to the kids still on waiting lists to get salad bars in their schools.

This year’s Tour de Fresh returns to the location and timing of its debut ride, coinciding with PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, California, in October. But if you can’t wait that long to help bring our industry to the youngest generation of consumers, the annual FreshStart fundraiser Bids for Kids is just a couple of weeks away, in conjunction with the educational conference at La Quinta Resort in La Quinta, California, January 15-17.

Tour de Fresh will not only be at the conference, but has also donated a Tour de Fresh experience as part of the auction, to be held on January 15.

Suit up, fresh produce people, and let another year of expanding access to fruits and vegetables begin!

United Fresh