IRVING, TX - This year, AndNowUKnow is proud to be the official media sponsor of the Tour de Fresh. The annual fundraising event coming up this October 19th to the 22nd is a 300-mile bike ride from Hickory, NC, arriving in Atlanta, GA, just prior to the opening of PMA’s Fresh Summit.

To learn more about last year's event, you can watch the video below:

Last year’s event was a raging success, raising over $142,000 and placing over 40 salads bars in communities in 11 states including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. For 2015, the goal of the 2015 Tour de Fresh and its participants is to privately finance more than 100 new salad bars in school districts across the country. Tour de Fresh will also increase its roster of riders from 40 to 55 to accommodate anyone who did not get to join in on the fun in 2014.

Interested in being a sponsor?

Tour de Fresh sponsorships offer fresh produce industry companies six months of marketing opportunities, media impressions, and exposure. Opportunities to join confirmed Premier Sponsors like California Giant Berry Farms, CHEP, Tanimura & Antle, Natural Delights, TSAMMA, and Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers are now available. Also, thanks to the overwhelming demand for sponsorships last year, new sponsorships are available including:

• Support Van Sponsors
• Breakfast Sponsors
• Lunch Sponsors
• Dinner Sponsors
• Finish Line Ceremony Sponsors 
• Rider Sponsors

In addition to fresh produce companies, retailers have opportunities to join in to support Tour de Fresh too. Sponsorship opportunities being offered to retailers include:

• Retail Stop & Lunch Sponsors
• Finish Line Ceremony Sponsor

At last year’s event, Tour de Fresh rider Ed Purves and his wife Robin raised $15,000 riding together on their tandem bike, and have been hugely active with planning this year’s event as well. Purves and the rest of the Tour de Fresh team recently had the opportunity to participate in Salad Bar Recognition Day at a Bakersfield, California Middle School.  

Purves had a wonderful experience at the school, and had this to say, “First and foremost, there is nothing like the up close and personal seeing of a first hand experience! If that does not sell you on the real benefits of a salad bar in schools then nothing will. The school we visited was a run of the mill middle to lower class type school, but the commitment and creativity from the working salad bar staff and the principal was clear.” 

Responses from the children the group interviewed were also overwhelming positive. Having alternatives to meat and access to fresh fruit and vegetables made all the difference to them.

“I was surprised at how much they were being used honestly. I saw numerous items being consumed and having to be replenished,” said Brett Dixon, President of Top Brass. “It was truthfully rewarding to see what you have set in motion, Ed. I thought they were doing a great job and Brenda and Sarah (affiliates of the Bakersfield School District) seem to take great interest in constantly improving the possibilities. I appreciate you allowing us to be a part of the process!”

So are you interested in supporting a great cause and providing salad bars to schools around the country? Visit tourdefresh.com for all the information you’ll need.

Tour de Fresh