Roundy’s Donates Salad Bars to 40 Schools

In recognition of National School Lunch Week, Oct. 13-17, and the produce industry’s commitment to healthy school meals, Roundy’s Supermarkets is donating salad bars to 40 schools in Illinois and Wisconsin. The donation by the Milwaukee-based grocer supports United Fresh Start Foundation’s Let’s Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools campaign, which has a goal to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption by donating salad bars to schools in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. 

“Programs that encourage children to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables benefit our produce departments and we’re excited to get more involved with schools in the communities we serve,” said Steve Jarzombek, VP produce procurement and merchandising for Roundy’s.

A passionate advocate for increasing children’s produce consumption, Jarzombek serves as a co-chair for United's Let’s Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools campaign. “We partnered with our vendor community and are pleased that so many companies wanted to support salad bars for schools,” he added, noting Roundy’s various activities aimed to support child nutrition and education about the importance of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet.

Salad bars will be donated to schools throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, benefitting communities where Roundy’s has stores. The schools will use the salad bars during their lunch service to provide students with greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables, to engage parents in conversations about healthier meals at home and to create a healthier school food environment.

Earlier this summer, several Roundy’s banners, including Copps Food Center, Metro Market and Pick 'n Save, also partnered with Produce for Kids to support salad bars for Midwest schools. 

“We’re so pleased to have Roundy’s as a leading supporter of our Let’s Move Salad Bars to Midwest Schools campaign,” said United Fresh president/CEO Tom Stenzel. “United Fresh is committed to increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption and our salad bar campaign is a tangible example of our industry’s efforts to empower students to make their own healthy choices. By forging community partnerships and creating an environment that encourages healthy eating behaviors, we can assist students with selecting fresh fruit and vegetables for their meals and snacks each school day.”

The special Midwest campaign continues United Fresh Start Foundation’s tradition of benefiting children and schools in the region of the country that plays host to United Fresh's annual convention, which takes place in Chicago in June of 2015 and 2016.