Chiquita Brands International has joined forces with Cincinnati's bipartisan Congressional representatives and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) to back the United Fresh Foundation's 'A Salad Bar in Every School' campaign, through the dedication of a new salad bar at Cincinnati's Academy of World Languages.
Joining the ceremony were US representatives Steve Driehaus and Jean Schmidt, along with Chiquita chairman and CEO Fernando Aguirre, CPS superintendent Mary Ronan and United Fresh Produce Association president and CEO Tom Stenzel.
'Promoting better childhood nutrition and wellness in our hometown schools is a great way to give back to our community,' said Fernando Aguirre. 'Improved access to fruit and vegetables with school salad bars is a winning proposition for our kids and schools. We are proud to be part of this bipartisan effort and are committed to expanding this initiative.'
In addition to the Academy, further salad bars have been added at Cincinnati Carson Elementary, Pleasant Ridge Montessori and John P. Parker Elementary schools.
'I love the idea of 'A Salad Bar in Every School,' and I want to thank Chiquita for helping to make that a reality,' said Mary Ronan. 'By encouraging our students to make salads for lunch with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, we’ll be teaching healthy eating habits that will keep students alert in classes and serve them well all their lives.'
Launched in February 2010 by the United Fresh Foundation, the Salad Bar in Every School campaign is a multi-year public health commitment from the fresh produce industry designed to bring fruit and vegetable salad bars to schools across America, with Chiquita the first produce company to commit to the campaign.
