AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market here has announced that it will renew its partnership with Chef Ann Cooper, the “Renegade Lunch Lady,” on a project that will fund salad bars in public schools throughout the U.S.
"With childhood obesity levels at an all-time high, everyone has a stake in this fight and must take action to help change the way our children eat both at home and school," Walter Robb, co-chief executive officer for Whole Foods Market, said in a release.
"We see partnering with our shoppers to raise funds for salad bars in local schools as an immediate way for us to come together and make an impact on our children's health in the communities we serve. Our goal is to provide a salad bar in a local school in each of the communities we serve with our 300 stores."
From now through Sept. 29, Whole Foods’ shoppers can donate to the project at checkout, or make online donations through saladbarproject.org. Each salad bar kit costs about $2,500, and will be donated through a simple online grant process. Any public school within 50 miles of a Whole Foods store is eligible to apply.