On Capitol Hill today, United Fresh hosted congressional briefings on the Benefits of School Salad Bars in both the House and Senate.  Congressmen Sam Farr (D-CA) and Karen Williams, chief of staff for Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) spoke at the House briefing about the importance of improving child nutrition and their Children's Fruit and Vegetable Act of 2009, which will be introduced soon. Panelists presented findings from school-based research studies, discussed specifically how salad bars boost fruit and vegetable consumption and called on Congress to support policy changes in the 2010 Child Nutrition Act that would increase funding for school meals so schools could offer more salad bars and other fresh fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Wendy Slusser, associate clinical professor of pediatrics at UCLA's Mattel Children’s Hospital and Dr. Harvinder Sareen, director of clinical programs at Anthem Blue Cross, highlighted results from salad bar studies conducted in Los Angeles schools. They noted that school salad bars increase student consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and reduce consumption of energy-dense foods. Their research led to a policy that the school district should provide the equipment for Fruit/Vegetable Bars in all Los Angeles schools; today over 60 LA schools have Fruit/Vegetable Bars. Both researchers called for a policy to promote salad bars to schools nationally. Emphasizing that children's eating habits would improve if all schools had salad bars, they also called for continued federal funding so schools could purchase refrigeration, salad bars, and other cafeteria equipment that will help them serve healthier meals. 

Dr. Esperanza Zendejas, Superintendent at Alisal Union School District, in Salinas, CA, and a pioneer in placing salad bars in elementary schools all over the country since 1988, noted that all 11 of her elementary schools have salad bars.  She spoke about watching her young students enjoy a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and the powerful impact salad bars have on improving the entire school food environment.

Linda Moore, founder of the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. and recipient of the salad bar donated by United Fresh Produce Association in September, noted the incredible response of her students, how they flock to the salad bar at lunch and are now choosing to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Paris Jones, Student Government President and 6th grader at Stokes, reported that students rush to be the first in line at the salad bar and are now eating more fruits and vegetables and eating less unhealthy foods. She called on Congress to provide a salad bar for every school!  

In early 2010, Congress will reauthorize all child nutrition programs. This briefing put the spotlight on the importance of salad bars and urged Congress to support schools so they can provide more fresh fruits and vegetables at school meals. Following the briefings the panelist met with their members of Congress and with officials at USDA.  United Fresh was honored to host the briefing and to have these distinguished experts travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate so strongly for United Fresh’s child nutrition policy priorities.

For more information, please contact United Fresh Vice President for Nutrition and Health Dr. Lorelei DiSogra at 202-303-3400.