PMA Donates 10 Salad Bars to St. Tammany Parish in La.

Produce Marketing Association (PMA), as a member of the National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, has donated 10 salad bars to St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana as part of its commitment to increasing children’s consumption of fresh produce. The effort is in support of the “Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools” and the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiatives.

The donation kicked off with a visit to the Whispering Forest Elementary School in Slidell, La., on Oct. 16, where one of the 10 salad bars is already in use. Present at the event were PMA leaders, local attendees and New Orleans Saints’ mascot, Gumbo.

“Having a salad bar option for our school students is an important step in encouraging healthy eating choices,” said Pat Farris, supervisor of school food services for the St. Tammany Parish School Board. “The habits and behaviors students practice in school often translate to what they do at home. We’re excited to help kids make those smart choices in our cafeterias with the donation of these ten salad bars.”

Returning to the Big Easy for the first time since 2002, the PMA Fresh Summit Convention & Expo is expected to draw more than 18,000 attendees from Oct. 18-20.

“PMA is honored to support this initiative and a community that has given so much to the association,” said Jan DeLyser, VP of marketing for California Avocado Commission and PMA chairman of the board. “Every time our industry comes to New Orleans, we experience the renowned southern hospitality that this city and its surrounding communities are famous for. This salad bar donation is a small token of our appreciation for our hosts and ensures that school children in St. Tammany’s have more access to fresh fruits and vegetables so they can build healthful habits for life.”

Produce Marketing Association is the leading trade association representing companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain.