News Type: Press Release

Brighter Bites Partners with Bright Side Snacks – Every Snack Sold Will Donate to Brighter Bites Families

Posted on December 11, 2024 by -

HOUSTON (December 4, 2024) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, partners with Bright Side Snacks, a new snack food company – offering delicious, cracker-like crisps made from upcycled fruits and vegetables – committed to reducing food waste and promoting healthier eating habits.

For every snack bag sold, we will donate a portion to Brighter Bites – supporting the nonprofit’s mission of creating communities of health through fresh food and nutrition education.

“We are so excited to launch this new brand and provide a healthier snack option for everyone to enjoy. It’s an approachable snack that can be a part of any diet,” said Lisa Helfman, co-founder of Bright Side Snacks and Brighter Bites. “Thirteen years ago, Brighter Bites started on the concept of providing healthier food options to families to improve their health, and Bright Side Snacks is an extension of just that – a healthy, on-the-go, delicious snack made with fresh fruits and vegetables!”

Bright Side Snacks are a new kind of fruit crisp cracker made simply with fruit and vegetable pulp. All flavors are made with only one or two ingredients: just pineapple, pineapple and beet, pineapple and kale, pineapple and cinnamon. Furthermore, the product offers a sustainable solution by utilizing pineapple pulp and other pulp that would otherwise be thrown out after the fruit or vegetable is juiced.

“Not only is it in the name, but Bright Side Snacks aligns beautifully with Brighter Bites and its goal to bring fresher, healthier options to consumers,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “We are thankful for the brand’s contribution to our mission and look forward to seeing them grow within the market.”

Bright Side Snacks are currently being sold online and at select H-E-B stores. If retailers are interested in learning more, please contact Lee Haverman at Lee@brightsidesnacks.com.

 

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About Brighter Bites:
Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided over 65 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than one million individuals (including teachers) in Austin, Bakersfield, Dallas, Houston, Las Cruces, Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York City, Salinas, San Antonio, Southwest Florida, and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About Bright Side Snacks
Bright Side Snacks is a fresh and fun startup food company dedicated to making snacking healthier and more sustainable. Its flagship product, Bright Side Crisps, is crafted from upcycled fruit and vegetable pulp, turning juicing byproducts into delicious, crunchy snacks. With a focus on simplicity, each crisp is made with just one or two ingredients, providing a clean-label alternative to traditional snacks. Bright Side Snacks is committed to reducing food waste and promoting sustainable habits, partnering with Brighter Bites to support healthier communities through access to fresh food. To learn more, visit BrightSideSnacks.com.

 

Brighter Bites Partnership with FreshPoint delivers over 3.6 million pounds of produce

Posted on August 16, 2024 by -

HOUSTON (August 19, 2024) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, shares an update on its partnership with FreshPoint, a Sysco Company.

This year alone, FreshPoint has utilized its delivery expertise to help move over 3.6 million pounds of produce through their warehouses to deliver to 90 school sites, totaling almost 1,400 deliveries made through their support.

With eight years of partnership, Brighter Bites also expands its board of directors with the addition of Jenny Johnson, SVP and CAO at Sysco, who will offer the nonprofit her extensive financial expertise to further its mission.

“FreshPoint provides fresh fruits and vegetables to our communities, and this partnership with Brighter Bites gives young students the opportunity to have access to fresh food which is particularly important with the smaller schools and intercity districts that Brighter Bites serves,” said FreshPoint CEO, Jim Procuniar. “Not only does this program help underserved students, but it also helps farmers we work with to utilize excess product that would otherwise go to waste by getting it to where its needed most!”

Furthermore, FreshPoint is the only partner of Brighter Bites’ that has supported programming in multiple cities, including Washington D.C., Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and cities throughout Southwest Florida.

“We are incredibly grateful to FreshPoint for their unwavering support,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “Having spent three decades with FreshPoint/Sysco myself, I know firsthand the values and dedication they bring to everything they do. Their backing is invaluable to us and underscores their commitment to making a positive impact by allowing us to supply millions of people in critical locations with our fresh produce and nutrition education programs.”

 

Brighter Bites, Zespri Kiwifruit and Gelson’s Collaborate for In-Store Promotion

Posted on July 30, 2024 by -

Zespri and Gelson’s to Each Donate One Dollar to Brighter Bites For Each  SunGold Kiwi Unit Purchased at Gelson’s.

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 31, 2024) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, partners with Zespri™ Kiwifruit and Gelson’s to host a two week, in-store promotion running from August 14 to 27. During this time, Zespri and Gelson’s will each donate $1 ($2 total) to the national nonprofit Brighter Bites for every one-pound package of Zespri SunGold Kiwi purchased.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Zespri Kiwifruit and Brighter Bites for the second year of this promotion,” said Sean Saenz, vice president of fresh foods for Gelson’s. “This initiative aligns with our commitment to offering high-quality products and supporting the health and well-being of our local communities.”

The promotion aims to support Brighter Bites’ mission of creating communities of health through fresh food. By purchasing Zespri SunGold Kiwi at any Gelson’s location, shoppers will not only enjoy the delicious and nutritious fruit but also contribute to a cause that provides fresh produce and nutrition education to children and their families.

“Zespri is proud to join Gelson’s in supporting Brighter Bites,” said Jeanne Wilson, head of marketing for Zespri North America. “Our SunGold Kiwifruit is not only a tasty and nutritious choice but also a means to make a positive impact on children’s health and nutrition.”

Last year, Brighter Bites, Zespri and Gelson’s came together for the same promotion and raised $2,500 to further the nonprofit’s dedication to provide reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and exposure to recipes that feature fresh food.

“This type of collaboration is a great example of how retailers and produce companies can come together to support an important mission of providing fresh fruits and vegetables to local communities,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “Our promotion together last year was a great success, and we look forward to continuing to work together to encourage healthier choices.”

 

Brighter Bites Raises $25,000 with Lakeview Farms During IDDBA’S 60th Show Peppers with a Purpose

Posted on June 21, 2024 by -

We partnered with Lakeview Farms, a leading manufacturer of refrigerated desserts, dips, salsa, hummus and specialty products, to host “Peppers with a Purpose” at IDDBA’s 60th tradeshow to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit’s mission. The event included a spinning wheel of different peppers ranging from mild to hot, which each participant had to spin the wheel and take a bite of the pepper selected. Additionally, the hotter the pepper, the more money that was raised for Brighter Bites, which totaled $25,000 at the end of the event. “To support Brighter Bites, we invited hundreds of individuals to our booth at the Houston IDDBA show, to join us in raising funds,” said Tom Davis, CEO of Lakeview Farms. “Fresh and healthy food is our world and raising $25,000 to put fresh food into the homes of people who need it most, is meaningful to us. We’re proud to partner with Brighter Bites!” Furthermore, Fresh Cravings, Rojo’s and La Mexicana Salsa – brands under the Lakeview Farms parent company – highlighted the “Salsabrate The Good” campaign, which shares the stories of like-minded organizations in communities served to make a positive impact together. Brighter Bites was featured in one of the videos, showcasing its mission to support under-resourced communities by providing fresh produce and nutrition education. Click HERE to view the video. “Partnerships like the one we’ve created with Lakeview Farms and their brands enables our work to come to life and get fresh food into the hands of children and families faster than if we were doing it alone,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the industry working together to better the eating habits and consumption of fresh food among consumers, and we are so grateful to be doing this work with Lakeview Farms.”

Brighter Bites Partners with GoodPop for 2024 Summer Programming

Posted on June 4, 2024 by -

HOUSTON (June 4, 2024) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announces partnership with GoodPop®, makers of better-for-you frozen pops and bubbly beverages.

Through this partnership, GoodPop will contribute to the nonprofit’s mission by making a financial donation, including a $40,000 matching of Brighter Bites’ summer Core Campaign. Additionally, GoodPop will participate in a volunteer day at one of the Austin summer program sites, contribute fresh watermelon from their own supply chain to diversify the nonprofit’s distribution bags, and execute a GoodPop product cause marketing strategy to raise awareness of Brighter Bites’ back-to-school campaign

“We are honored to have a partner like GoodPop to support our mission, especially during our summer programming months,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “Summer programming is crucial for the communities we serve in providing access to fresh produce when school is out. To have partner support during this time of the year is always welcomed and appreciated.”

Furthermore, Brighter Bites is also giving back to GoodPop’s cause by participating in Good Deeds Day, a global movement of people dedicated to doing good. Since 2007, millions of people and thousands of organizations from 110 countries have come together annually to volunteer and #DoGood. This Brighter Bites and GoodPop partnership is just the beginning of many connections with organizations across the country to provide people with an opportunity to do good and volunteer.

“At GoodPop, it is our mission to provide families with more wholesome, delicious treats made with real and simple ingredients while also doing good in the communities we serve, ” says Clara Tomlin, Director of Brand Impact at GoodPop.  “GoodPop is proud to partner with Brighter Bites, uplifting two of our giving pillars: Supporting Equity and Inclusion and Ending Hunger in America. This partnership feels especially important to us as we always strive to bring joy to families during the summer through our products and mission.”

Brighter Bites Second Annual Gala Raises Over $450,000 to Aid Under-Resourced Communities

Posted on April 11, 2024 by -

The gala took place on March 27th in Houston, Texas at The Revaire, and featured guest speakers Daniel Goetz, founder of GoodPop, Becca Dittrich, VP of impact at Chobani, and Chris Shepherd, chef and founding director of the Southern Smoke Foundation. The 400 attendees heard from each speaker on how their organizations work to support local food systems, to encourage community wellness, and to responsibly use fresh, wholesome ingredients.

As part of the celebration, the nonprofit raised over $450,000 through table sponsorships as well as from the silent auction held during the event. These proceeds will go toward continuing to expand Brighter Bites’ reach to helping under-resourced communities throughout the U.S.

“We are so very thankful to all of the sponsors, donors, volunteers, partners, and employees who make our program possible,” said Lisa Helfman, founder and board chair of Brighter Bites. “With the generosity we received not only at the gala but throughout the year, we will continue to push and expand the work we do to help create communities of health and wellness across the nation.”

Click to read the full article.

Brighter Bites Expands Partnership with sweetgreen Across Texas

Posted on April 10, 2023 by -

HOUSTON (April 10, 2023)– Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, continues to expand its partnership with sweetgreen, a mission-driven restaurant brand building healthier communities by connecting people to real food, to serve schoolchildren and families across Texas.

Brighter Bites began their partnership with sweetgreen during the opening of the company’s Main Street restaurant in Downtown Houston in 2020. For every meal sold during their grand openings, sweetgreen donates a freshly prepared meal to Brighter Bites for students and families at underserved elementary schools in the local community.

Since the start of their partnership, Brighter Bites has been the impact partner for ten of sweetgreen’s restaurant openings across Texas in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. Brighter Bites has received over 3,500 meals, equating to around $45,000 worth of food donations. In 2023, Brighter Bites and sweetgreen partnered for new restaurant openings in the Mueller neighborhood in Austin and, just last week, Uptown Houston.

“When sweetgreen meals are available at distribution locations, it’s always a crowd-pleaser and welcomed by our schools and families,” said Katie Degen, senior program manager of Brighter Bites Houston. “The meals enhance the program’s overall experience by exposing families to different fruits and vegetables. This inspires families to recreate the meals at home with the produce provided in the weekly boxes!”

Through this collaboration, Brighter Bites can provide their families with craveable, nutritious meals made from scratch in sweetgreen’s local kitchens in addition to their regular produce distribution. By working with sweetgreen, Brighter Bites hopes to connect and inspire families with new ways to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables into healthy and delicious meals.

“Since day one, our mission has focused on expanding access to real food,” said Tony Wu, sweetgreen’s DEI + Social Impact Program Manager. “We resonate with Brighter Bites’ holistic approach to providing equitable access to fresh food and robust nutrition education to kids and their parents to reinforce healthy eating habits. We’re proud to support Brighter Bites and build healthier communities together.”

 

To learn more about Brighter Bites or how to volunteer or partner, visit brighterbites.org, or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube.

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About Brighter Bites:

Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided over 50 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 500,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, Southwest Florida, Salinas, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and San Antonio. To learn more about Brighter Bites, visit www.brighterbites.org.

 

Brighter Bites Receives Increased Funding From Mission Produce, Sunset, & Taylor Farms

Posted on February 28, 2023 by -

HOUSTON (February 28, 2023) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, has received increased funding from key industry partners Mission Produce, SUNSET, and Taylor Farms. The additional donations will benefit Dallas and Salinas location programming.

“Since I first attended IFPA’s October event as the CEO of Brighter Bites just over three years ago, I’ve had the honor of working with the most dedicated partners through Mission Produce, SUNSET, and Taylor Farms,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “As I walked the show that year all three companies immediately stepped up to support our organization and its mission without hesitation and have continued that to this day. We are beyond thankful for their dedication and commitment to provide fresh food for underserved communities in our country.”

In addition to monetary contributions, Taylor Farms provides Brighter Bites with a weekly supply of produce to include in the program boxes distributed to under-resourced families. These typically include a variety of produce to broaden family and students’ palettes and knowledge on fruits and vegetables available for them.

“As a part of our ongoing efforts to support food accessibility, Taylor Farms values our longstanding partnership with Brighter Bites and will be increasing our donation commitment this year to help bolster the cause,” states Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms. “We are passionate about helping families gain access to healthy fresh foods and are proud of the impact we have been able to make together with Brighter Bites.”

Mission Produce and SUNSET have been ambassadors of Brighter Bites for the past three years and are considered major financial supporters. As a champion of Brighter Bites and the company’s mission, Brighter Bites is able to make a larger difference in the lives of families across the country.

“Brighter Bites provides a unique opportunity to not only the communities they serve by providing a healthy food source for those in need, but they also are exposing fresh produce to new users in many cases,” said Steve Barnard, President and CEO of Mission Produce. “This a win/win for the communities and the produce industry.”

“Brighter Bites’ vision to make fresh produce accessible to communities in need is very close to our hearts and values at Mastronardi Produce,” said Paul Mastronardi, President & CEO of Mastronardi Produce Limited/SUNSET®. “Grandpa Umberto Mastronardi had that same vision more than 70 years ago when he pioneered greenhouse growing in North America. It is an honor to support the impactful work carried out by Brighter Bites in America.”

To learn more about becoming a corporate sponsor through product or financial donations, visit brighterbites.org or contact Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Amy Priebe, at amy.priebe@brighterbites.org. To stay informed on additional ways to support the organization, follow Brighter Bites on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube.

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About Brighter Bites:

Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided over 50 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 500,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, Southwest Florida, Salinas, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and San Antonio. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About Mission Produce:

Mission Produce is a global leader in the worldwide avocado business. Since 1983, Mission Produce has been sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, and as of 2021, fresh mangos, to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers in over 25 countries. The vertically integrated Company owns and operates four state-of-the-art packing facilities in key growing locations globally, including California, Mexico and Peru and has additional sourcing capabilities in Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa and more, which allow the Company to provide a year-round supply of premium fruit. Mission’s global distribution network includes 12 forward distribution centers that are strategically positioned in key markets throughout North America, China and Europe, offering value-added services such as ripening, bagging, custom packing and logistical management. For more information, please visit www.missionproduce.com.

 

About Mastronardi Produce Ltd.®

A pioneer and industry leader in the gourmet greenhouse industry, Mastronardi Produce grows and markets nationally recognized products under the SUNSET® brand, including Campari®, Flavor Bombs®, and Angel Sweet® tomatoes. Mastronardi Produce has been family-owned for over 70 years and prides itself on producing consistently flavorful gourmet tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and berries. To learn more about SUNSET, visit www.sunsetgrown.com.

 

 

 

 

 

About Taylor Farms:

Taylor Farms is a leading North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods with production facilities across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Taylor Farms is grounded in a commitment to quality, assured supply, innovation, sustainability, and food safety. Taylor Farms is family owned and based in “The Salad Bowl of the World” Salinas, California. For more information, delicious recipes, and more visit www.taylorfarms.com and follow Taylor Farms on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

 

Brighter Bites Launches 10th Location in San Antonio, Texas

Posted on February 1, 2023 by -

SAN ANTONIO (February 1, 2023) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announces the launch of its tenth location in San Antonio, Texas. This semester, Brighter Bites will serve six schools within Harlandale ISD, which will directly impact around 720 families and provide 115,200 pounds of fresh produce to its participants.

“I’m so excited our students will be able to receive a hands-on experience of what healthy choices actually look like,” said Juan Aguilar, physical educator at Harlandale ISD. “With the launch of Brighter Bites programming, the kids will be able to try new vegetables and fruits that they normally wouldn’t have access to on a regular basis. It is my hope this will also help families ease their food expenses, as prices of groceries have increased dramatically within the last year.”

The first distribution in San Antonio began last week and will continue each week through the end of May. Brighter Bites plans to further expand its reach into more schools within the Harlandale school district for the fall semester. The generous support and partnership from Harlandale ISD and Student Health Advisory Committee, UnitedHealthcare, and FreshPoint San Antonio have made this expansion possible.

“At Carroll Bell Elementary, we have a strong, long-standing bond with our school families and the surrounding community,” said Harlandale ISD Physical Educator, Scott Albach. “Through our health education curriculum, students and families receive great health information and resources but sometimes making those connections requires something more. Brighter Bites is giving our community the tools to experience making healthy choices, the experience of fresh and new fruits and vegetables, and the experience of a family coming together to cook, eat and share a meal.”

To learn more about Brighter Bites, or how to volunteer or partner in San Antonio, visit brighterbites.org, or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube.

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About Brighter Bites:

Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschool, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided over 50 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 500,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, Southwest Florida, Salinas, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and San Antonio. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

Brighter Bites Announces Expansion to Additional Schools in Washington, D.C.

Posted on November 30, 2022 by -

BRIGHTER BITES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Brighter Bites Expects to Impact Over 250 Additional Families in the D.C. Area

Washington, D.C. (November 30, 2022) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announces further expansion within the Washington, D.C. area.

Brighter Bites has served families in Prince George’s County, Maryland since 2017, and is now expanding its reach to hundreds of more families in the D.C. Public Schools District. This year, the organization is serving sixteen schools in Prince George’s County and two in D.C., including Browne Education Campus and Wheatley Education Campus both located in Ward 5 of Washington, D.C.

“My students are over-the-moon when Brighter Bites comes to our school! They love being able to interact with and learn about a variety of fruits and vegetables in engaging and creative ways,” said Mariah Meads, kindergarten teacher at Browne Education Campus. “Brighter Bites intentionally curates meaningful learning opportunities to educate and teach students how to have a healthy relationship with the food they put in their bodies, and we couldn’t be happier our students are able to learn this firsthand.”

Brighter Bites’ expansion in this region is made possible through key partners including 4P Foods, a weekly grocery delivery service in the communities of Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland.

“We believe that fresh, healthy, delicious food should be the norm, not the exception – a right, not a privilege. Working together with Brighter Bites allows us to build towards that mission with every single delivery,” said Tom McDougall, Founder & CEO of 4P Foods. “This program not only provides wonderful food to families that might not otherwise have access to it, but it is showing what’s possible when we rethink what the future food system must look like. It is an opportunity to work with a large network of community leaders, families, farmers, educators, children, and others to build towards a better food system. One that is regional, regenerative, equitable, and delicious. We’re honored to be a part of it.”

Since launching in 2012, Brighter Bites has distributed more than 50 million pounds of produce and hundreds of thousands of nutrition education materials to over 500,000 individuals through schools, after school programs and summer camps in the cities in which it serves. Brighter Bites uses a simple formula for introducing healthy lifestyles to families: produce distribution, nutrition education, and a fun food experience that helps to demystify produce and show just how great it can taste.

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About Brighter Bites:

Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that creates communities of health through fresh food with the goal of changing behavior among children and their families to prevent obesity and achieve long-term health. Brighter Bites is an evidence-based, multi-component elementary school, preschools, and summer camp program that utilizes reliable access to fruits and vegetables, nutrition education, and consistent exposure to recipes and messages that feature fresh food. Since 2012, Brighter Bites has provided more than 50 million pounds of produce and hundreds of thousands of nutrition education materials to more than 500,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Austin, Dallas, New York City, Washington, D.C., Southwest Florida, Salinas, Los Angeles, and Bakersfield. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org and follow on social media @brighterbites.