Many schools purchase fresh produce through the Dept. of Defense Fresh Program. Here the DoD Fresh Program’s exhibit booth shows off a variety of whole and fresh-cut produce items available to schools.

United's Salad Bar in Every School campaign was a hit with school foodservice directors at this year's School Nutrition Association Annual Conference in Dallas. The event is designed for school foodservice directors to learn about new food products they may want to include on their menus, as well as participate in a variety of education sessions that cover issues ranging from procurement requirements, implementing nutrition education in the classroom, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and how to develop and implement local wellness policies.

Working in the booths of the Cambro Manufacturing Company and The Vollrath Company - the two companies selected as the preferred salad bar vendors partners for the salad bar initiative - United Fresh Vice President of Business Development Claudia Wenzing and Policy and Grassroots Coordinator Andrew Marshall spoke with foodservice directors about the campaign, described the two salad bar models being offered and helped to raise awareness of the effectiveness of school salad bars in increasing student’s consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The pair also visited with United Fresh member companies exhibiting in "Produce Row," representatives from USDA and several well-known school food leaders that have already have taken steps to increase children’s access to fresh produce in their school meals.

"The SNA show was helpful in getting a better understanding of the school food environment," said Wenzing. "It was interesting to hear from school foodservice personnel about their desire to serve more fresh produce, as well as hear about some of their challenges and successes with introducing their students to more fresh fruits and vegetables. There was a lot of interest in salad bar campaign, and several foodservice directors purchased salad bars that included United's campaign signage at the show."

For more information, please contact Wenzing or Marshall. Both can also be reached at 202-303-3400.