With the one-year-anniversary of the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign approaching, New Haven Public Schools unveiled a new salad bar at Mauro-Sheridan Science, Technology and Communications School on Thursday.

USDA Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton joined U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director, New Haven Public School Food Services, and New England Patriots’ Ron Brace to celebrate the new veggie-filled bar, all part of the administration-backed Salad Bars to Schools program.

“Salad Bars are one of the best ways to increase a child’s access to fresh vegetables,” said Chef Timothy Cipriano. “We are actively seeking support from local companies and organizations to increase the number of salad bars in our schools. In season, these salad bars will be chock full of both student-grown and locally grown vegetables supporting our Farm to School Program.”

“Let’s Move! Salad Bars to Schools provides students an opportunity to prepare and consume their own fresh salad every day, which translates into a win-win for our children’s health and wellbeing,” added Thornton. “We thank all of our vital partners who contributed and look forward to the thousands of schools that will benefit from similar nutritious options in the coming years.”

Let’s Move! Salad Bars to Schools initiative is working to put at least 6,000 salad bars in schools in the next three years. 

According to USDA, New Haven Public Schools has been awarded two salad bars from NatureSeal and the United Fresh Produce Association Foundation.  Mauro-Sheridan is a magnet school for children pre-K through 8th grade.

For more information on the initiative, see LetsMove.gov.