The United Fresh Produce Association co-hosted a Congressional Briefing with Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) on Increasing Students’ Access to Fruits and Vegetables: Salad Bars in Schools. Prior to the briefing Congressman Ryan introduced The Salad Bar in Schools Expansion Act in the House of Representatives.
The Salad Bar in Schools Expansion Act establishes grant funding to provide training, technical assistance and placement of salad bars in elementary, middle and high schools across the country. It also ensures USDA is proactive in promoting school salad bars and allows schools flexibility to use federal funding for cafeteria equipment to purchase salad bars.
Congressman Ryan was joined by a panel of nutrition, agriculture, and policy experts along with school children who addressed the critical need to expand children’s access to fruits and vegetables.
Speakers highlighted the importance of expanding salad bars in schools, the evidence-base for salad bars, benefits to improving students’ nutritional status, great success salad bars are having in schools around the country, the need for federal investment in school cafeteria equipment and the support of agriculture.
United Fresh Produce Association also was joined by allied produce organizations from across the country in support of this legislation.
