Salad Bars to Schools Grant Program
Salad Bars to Schools was created in response to the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, championed by former First Lady Michelle Obama, which modernized federal school meal standards by requiring schools to serve students at least a half cup of fruit or vegetables with breakfast and lunch. While salad bars offer an effective way for schools to meet these federal standards, chronic underfunding of school food programs and historic divestment in kitchen infrastructure left many schools unable to afford salad bar equipment.
To bridge this gap, the Chef Ann Foundation, National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, United Fresh Start Foundation, and Whole Foods Market launched the Salad Bars to Schools program to donate salad bar equipment, recipes, and training resources to schools across the country.
Since 2010, the program has donated over 6,000 salad bars, providing more than 3 million children with more access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Today, Salad Bars to Schools is operated by the Chef Ann Foundation with support from the Whole Foods Market Foundation.
The Salad Bars to Schools program provides schools with equipment grants that include a salad bar and related accessories, as well as staff training and marketing resources to support the successful implementation of a salad bar.
Program Goals
- Expand student access to a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Support schools with planning, implementation, and educational resources to ensure the success of their salad bar programs.
- Reduce packaging waste and promote more sustainable school meal practices.
