More Produce in Schools Update for 2023

At our recent Grower-Shipper Foundation Board strategic planning session, we decided that we have come to a close on More Produce in Schools and the Salad Bar program.

While we have raised thousands of dollars via Growers and Shippers to purchase salad bars in the Tri-County area, there have been some roadblocks to the use of salad bars and less schools applying for them locally.

We continue to stand by our Mission: Raising community awareness of the positive impact agriculture makes in our lives.

We are proud that together, with the help of our donors, 90 Salad Bars have been placed.

At this point in our programming, the Board feels it is best to focus our efforts on the AgKnowledge Program, Ag Against Hunger and our Ag Jobs program “Greater Vision.”

We applaud the many organizations that are working hard to ensure that fresh produce is a priority to families in the Central Coast area.

Please check out our website to learn of other ways we can help our community.

Thank you to the Community that supported this important program.

SALINAS, Calif. – On Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at Scotts Valley High School and San Benito High School, the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation (GSAF) joined representatives from the districts and local produce companies, to announce the donation and placement of two, new salad bars each at Scotts Valley High School and San Benito High School.

The donations are part of the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation’s, More Produce in Schools program, which matches local donors with local schools that request a salad bar in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counites The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation partners with Central Coast school foodservice directors and grower-shippers to make fresh, local produce more readily accessible to area students through the salad bar program.

“We are proud of all industry members who are helping ensure children in the surrounding area will have be able to choose to fresh, local produce everyday as part of their school lunch,” said Lorri Koster, the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation’s President. “The fields where we grow vegetables that feed that world are just a short distance from these schools, and it just make sense that students should be able to easily access the variety produce that’s our counties are known for.”

The Grower-Shipper Association Foundation has supported salad bars for locally-based schools in prior years as well. In the past five years, salad bar donations have been made possible by the generous contributions from Taylor Farms, Church Brothers Farms, Tanimura & Antle, Ocean Mist Farms, Braga Fresh Family Farms, Sabor Farms, Top Flavor Farms and Ippolito International.

Click here for full press release