Last week, The United Fresh Start Foundation joined Alexandria school and community leaders to highlight the district’s first “Greens & More Bar,” currently being implemented at Charles Barrett Elementary School. The salad bar dedication event highlighted public-private partnerships as a way to create healthy school food environments in Alexandria and across the country.
United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel, Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg, Alexandria Schools Superintendent Dr. Alvin Crawley, parents, and produce industry supporters were in attendance to promote this new healthy addition to the school’s cafeteria, and to observe second grade students select fresh produce options from their new “Greens & More (Salad) Bar.”
“This is truly a team effort, and it’s an honor to help my local school district, the place where our five children went to school, to begin implementing salad bars,” said Stenzel. “Kids like fresh fruits and vegetables. When given the opportunity to make their own choices from a visually appealing display of fresh produce on a school salad bar, they will select and eat more. Salad bars are the most effective strategy for helping students make the healthy choice, the easy choice. We see this here in Alexandria, and in schools across the country. It works.”
"The ‘Greens & More Bar’ has been a fantastic addition to our school lunch program,” said Charles Barrett Principal Seth Kennard. “Our students are being exposed to new fruits and veggies each week, they are learning healthy habits, and the presence of the salad bar has helped our entire school community -- students, teachers, parents -- think about making healthy choices. It’s been great.”
“The health and well-being of children in our city are paramount,” said Mayor Silberberg. “This new initiative shows the benefit of public and non-profit stakeholders working together for common cause, and I’m very proud of our schools for being leaders in the healthy school movement. It’s great to see this success at Charles Barrett Elementary, and I’m excited to have more schools get started with creating a new generation of healthy eaters.”
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) serves over 18,000 meals daily, including breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks, from 17 school sites throughout the city. With an annual food budget of nearly $3 million, more than ten percent is allocated toward fresh produce. The district is committed to expanding fruit and vegetable choices for students, and the “ACPS 2020 Strategic Plan” specifically highlights health and wellness as essential to ensuring students are ready to learn.
Salad bars were made possible thanks to produce industry donations coordinated by the United Fresh Start Foundation. Supporters include: Dole Food Company, Giant supermarket, Grimmway Farms, National Potato Council, Potatoes USA, and Tour de Fresh, a produce industry cycling event to raise funds for school salad bars.
Contact:
Andrew Marshall
United Fresh
Tel: (202) 303-3407