News Type: Press Release

Brighter Bites is Named The Produce Moms® Official Nonprofit Partner, Providing Bigger Platform to Serve Families in Need

Posted on January 10, 2022 by -

BRIGHTER BITES IS NAMED THE PRODUCE MOMS® NONPROFIT PARTNER

HOUSTON (January 10, 2022) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, is proud to announce it’s been named the official nonprofit partner of The Produce Moms.

The Produce Moms has been a longtime supporter of Brighter Bites and its mission to create communities of health through fresh food. With the finalization of its B Corp Certification, The Produce Moms chose Bright Bites as its nonprofit partner so as to provide an even bigger platform for the organization to reach more families around the country where fresh produce and resources are needed.

“Brighter Bites perfectly aligns with our mission to put more fresh produce on every table,” said Lori Taylor, founder and CEO of The Produce Moms. “Through this partnership, we’ll be able to reach even more families with educational messaging around the benefits of eating fresh produce, the growing process, and how to select, store and serve it.”

To bring increased awareness of Brighter Bites to consumers, The Produce Moms will utilize its vast social media platforms including podcasts, blog posts, content sharing, recipe features and more to share the philanthropy’s work.

“We’re honored to have been chosen by Lori and her team as The Produce Moms official nonprofit partner,” said Lisa Helfman, founder of Brighter Bites. “We look forward to growing this partnership while continuing to reach families with resources to help create lifelong healthier lifestyles.”

This unique partnership has evolved over the past year through a variety of outreach efforts, all with the goal to increase produce consumption among children and their families. The Produce Moms has featured Brighter Bites’ leadership in its podcasts and produce-filled recipes on its website. In return, Brighter Bites has promoted The Produce Moms and its mission to encourage healthy eating through sharing family activity sheets and its kid-friendly blogs and recipes.

To learn more about Brighter Bites, 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 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In February 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About The Produce Moms®

The Produce Moms® is a widely recognized consumer brand that is on a mission to put more fruits and vegetables on every table. Founded by Lori Taylor, we are a global community of passionate fresh produce advocates. Through our platforms and produce supplier partnerships, The Produce Moms educates consumers on the benefits of eating fresh produce, the growing process, and how to select, store and serve fruits and vegetables. We introduce our community to produce brands, engage the produce industry with consumers in inspiring conversations, and promote public policy to increase the availability of fresh produce at American schools. The Produce Moms digital platforms, podcast, television appearances, and consumer products reach millions per month and support the brand’s goal to increase produce consumption in both volume & variety. For more information, please visit www.theproducemoms.com.

Brighter Bites Thanks Produce Industry and School Partners This Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES THANKS PARTNERS AND DONORS THIS THANKSGIVING 

National Nonprofit Grateful for the Produce Industry and Its School Partners for Helping to Provide Fresh Produce and Nutrition Education to Families 

Houston, TX (November 23, 2021) – This Thanksgiving, Brighter Bites would like to acknowledge and thank its many partners who make its programming a success for the 30,000 families served in cities across the country, including Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, Washington, D.C., Southwest Florida, and Salinas, CA. 

Since January 2021, the nonprofit has distributed nearly 4 million pounds of fresh produce, much of which was donated from industry partners excited and eager to get their fruits and vegetables into the hands of families in under-resourced communities. In the elementary schools in which Brighter Bites serves, approximately 40,000 nutrition and physical education lessons along with produce activities were taught by teachers and supported by Brighter Bites staff. Additional culinary materials were distributed to students and their families through the Brighter Bites app, including thousands of recipes, tip sheets, and “how-to’s” to guide use of the produce at home.

“Our goal is to help more children and their families become lifelong produce consumers living healthier lifestyles,” said Amy Priebe, Sourcing Manager at Brighter Bites. “Thank you to all of our current produce partners, as we couldn’t do what we do for our families without your help.” 

Brighter Bites is always looking for new and exciting fruits and vegetables to provide its families. If an individual or organization is able to assist with donating produce, please contact Amy Priebe, amy.priebe@brighterbites.org. 

To learn more about Brighter Bites and its mission, visit www.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 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, Salinas and Southwest Florida. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

 

Brighter Bites Announces DMA Solutions as Agency of Record, Working Together to Help Increase Access to Fresh Food and Nutrition Education

Posted on October 12, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES ANNOUNCES DMA SOLUTIONS AS AGENCY OF RECORD

Brighter Bites and DMA Solutions Partner to Help Increase Access to Fresh Food and Nutrition Education

HOUSTON (October 12, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, announces DMA Solutions, a full-service marketing agency serving the fresh food and floral industry, as its agency of record.

Beginning in January of this year, DMA Solutions has worked with Brighter Bites through public relations efforts, marketing support in various campaigns, and social media consultation. DMA Solutions has provided opportunities for Brighter Bites to partner with brands within the fresh produce industry to further expand its reach to consumers via promotions and sweepstakes on a national scale. In addition, DMA Solutions has secured local media interviews and placements around the country, along with numerous trade industry coverage for the Brighter Bites program and other campaigns.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to work with an organization and team doing great things for communities across the U.S.,” said Dan’l Mackey Almy, president and CEO of DMA Solutions. “Brighter Bites’ mission aligns with our commitment at DMA Solutions to increase the consumption of fresh produce, and we look forward to continuing to expand their reach in the produce industry and beyond.”

To increase Brighter Bites’ efforts to provide fresh produce and nutrition resources to families, DMA Solutions will continue to support the non-profit with its expertise in the fresh produce industry and with like-minded brands.

“When looking for a partner to help Brighter Bites gain more exposure, our first choice was DMA Solutions and I am so happy it worked out. We have experienced tangible results through numerous media placements with trade and local publications, which led to produce and financial donations for our program,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “DMA Solutions has already proven to be a strong and reliable collaborator, and we look forward to continuing to do great work in partnership with this team.”

To learn more about Brighter Bites, visit brighterbites.org, or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitteror 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 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In February 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About DMA Solutions, Inc.:

DMA Solutions, Inc. is a marketing agency serving the fresh produce industry driven by a mission to increase demand of fresh fruits and vegetables. DMA Solutions, Inc. works to help their fresh produce clients achieve business goals with measurable marketing strategies that reach both consumer and trade audiences. With a successful track record in fresh produce marketing, DMA Solutions, Inc. provides a full spectrum of marketing services with quantifiable results to fit each of their clients’ individual needs. To learn more about DMA Solutions, Inc., the company’s work and its team of marketers, visit www.dma-solutions.comand The Core blog, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

 

Brighter Bites Releases Results of 2020 Voucher Program

Posted on September 23, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES RELEASES RESULTS OF “2020 VOUCHER PROGRAM” 

The Voucher Program Addressed Food Insecurity for Families Across the Country During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Ensure Access to Fresh Food & Nutrition Education 

HOUSTON (September 23, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, announces the availability of  a report recapping the organization’s efforts surrounding its successful 2020 Voucher Program.

In April of 2020, Brighter Bites implemented its first retail produce voucher program, ensuring families received continued access to produce and nutrition information as schools closed during the pandemic. The whitepaper, authored by Brighter Bites co-founder, Dr. Shreela Sharma and Amier Haidar, MPH, both of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, details the innovative public and private partnerships Brighter Bites established to address food insecurity during COVID-19 with the use of produce vouchers. 

“The information gained and provided by retail partners on the families’ buying preferences will be used to ensure variety in the Brighter Bites program, which tracks the unique produce items provided weekly to families. This variety is strongly linked to program loyalty, ultimately translating to better health choices and outcomes,” said Dr. Shreela Sharma, Professor of Epidemiology at the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas School of Public Health. 

Voucher Program Highlights: 

  • 12,482 families received $25 produce vouchers sent bi-weekly
  • Over 43,500 vouchers sent to families in Houston, Austin, Dallas, Southwest Florida and Washington DC
  • $652,295 in retail produce sales were generated with a 60% redemption rate

“All of our Brighter Bites families rely on food distribution at schools, so when everything began shutting down at the onset of the pandemic, we knew we had to respond to ensure our families were taken care of,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “We’re thankful to the retail partners and other volunteers who stepped up to help make this initiative possible, ultimately infusing over $650,000 in produce purchases into the retail setting. This was a real win-win as it brought customers to retail and allowed our partners to be part of the health solutions in the communities they are in.”  

Families received 25-dollar vouchers to use at partner grocery stores with the freedom to select produce that had become family favorites after repeated exposure through the Brighter Bites program. A few of the most selected items purchased using the vouchers were peppers, citrus, bananas, tomatoes, berries, avocados, mangoes, onions, and corn.  

The Brighter Bites 2020 Voucher Program whitepaper report may be downloaded here. To learn more about Brighter Bites, 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 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In February 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

 

Brighter Bites Launches National Back-To-School Campaign, Running Through October 31st

Posted on September 8, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES LAUNCHES NATIONAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAMPAIGN

“Brighter Minds Start with Brighter Bites” Will Run Through October 31st

HOUSTON (September 8, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, announces the launch of its national back-to-school campaign, “Brighter Minds Start with Brighter Bites.”

Now through October 31st, Brighter Bites invites the public to welcome children and their families back to school through fundraising efforts that directly impact local communities. The “Brighter Minds Start with Brighter Bites” campaign will raise money that will provide fresh fruits and vegetables, and nutrition education to families across the country. All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar. The goal of the campaign is to support programming this coming school year, ultimately providing a more equitable community that fosters a healthy mind, body, and environment.

“Despite the challenges of the past year and a half, we continue to commit ourselves to providing families with fresh food and nutrition education, knowing now that it is more important than ever,” said Lisa Helfman, founder of Brighter Bites. “Through our program, we are excited to engage with more people around the country to bring fresh food and nutritional resources to classrooms and families in the areas where we serve.”

Brighter Bites relies on support from produce industry partners as well as other organizations and individuals to ensure families have access to fresh food. The organization works with over 120 schools in seven cities, providing approximately 25 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce and nutrition education on a weekly basis. Brighter Bites families are actively engaged in the program, with data proving that during the program they consume significantly more fresh produce and are talking about nutrition more often in their homes, too.

“Any contribution, big or small, will go a long way in helping families across the nation gain access to fresh produce and nutrition resources,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “And in addition to these funds, Brighter Bites will also continue to benefit from the produce industry’s expertise, logistical know-how, and fresh product. All are vital to keep our program growing.”

To help Brighter Bites reach their goal of $50,000 by October 31, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/brighterbitesto donate today. To learn more about Brighter Bites, 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 more than 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In Febrary 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

Brighter Bites Distributes Over 600,000 Pounds of Fresh Produce and Nutrition Resources to Washington, D.C. Schools

Posted on August 3, 2021 by -

Brighter Bites Distributes Over 600,000 Pounds of Fresh Produce and Nutrition Resources To Washington, D.C. – Area Schools During 2020-2021 School Year

Prince George’s County, MD (August 3, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit program working to provide children with nutrition resources and fresh produce, completed a successful 2020-2021 school year in the Washington, D.C./Prince George’s County areas by providing 2,872 families boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables along with hundreds of nutrition education resources.

The boxes totaled 616,218 pounds and on average, contained 8 to 10 unique produce items. Area programming took place at 10 sites, including elementary schools in Adelphi, Capitol Heights, Glenarden, Hyattsville, Landover, Landover Hills, and Riverdale, and was strengthened by key partner relationships.

“The Brighter Bites program was instrumental in educating our school communities about good nutrition, encouraging families to try new foods, and keeping our community fed, especially during the pandemic when finances and other resources were quite limited for many,” said Valerie Brooks, educator at Cool Spring Elementary School in Adelphi. “Brighter Bites was a blessing to many families here at Cool Spring.”

To additionally benefit teachers and school communities, Brighter Bites provided teachers with CATCH online nutrition lessons, as well as videos around produce-related activities for ease of sharing with students. CATCH, which stands for Coordinated Approach to Child Health, encourages children and their communities to adopt healthier lifestyles, and aligns with Brighter Bites’ mission to distribute fresh food to students in under-resourced communities.

“Brighter Bites in Prince George’s County had a very successful school year despite the logistical challenges due to COVID-19,” said Carolina Moppett, Sr. Program Manager for Brighter Bites’ Washington, D.C.-area operations. “We were so pleased to serve over 2,800 families this year, and to receive such enthusiastic feedback from our participating teachers.”

Major D.C.-area partners include the Capital Area Food Bank and Coastal Sunbelt Produce, which from the start of the program have consistently provided produce and and arranged deliveries to the schools.

“As the Prince George’s County Council Member representing many Brighter Bites families, I am so pleased with the impact the organization is making in our communities,” said Prince George’s County Council Member Dannielle M. Glaros (D-District 3). “The fruits and vegetables, as well as the nutrition education materials that have been distributed, have been so well received and appreciated by all.”

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 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In February 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

Brighter Bites and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Partner to Expand Access to Fresh Produce and Food Literacy in Texas

Posted on June 30, 2021 by -

Brighter Bites and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Partner to Expand Access to Fresh Produce and Food Literacy in Texas

$40,000 Grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Supports Brighter Bites Expansions in the State

Houston, TX (June 30, 2020) – Brighter Bites is pleased to announce a grant of $40,000 from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) to support the implementation and expansion of the nonprofit’s Texas programming. The grant is a collaboration between BCBSTX and Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization.

The grant helped Brighter Bites reach its overall Texas programming goal to operate within 90 schools in the state. This allows for the safe distribution of nearly 100,000 pre-packed boxes containing more than 1.8 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as thousands of nutrition education materials since the beginning of the grant. The boxes included 112 different produce varieties, year-end survey instruments for families around issues of food insecurity, nutrition, and healthy habits, and teacher questionnaires were also launched due in part to the BCBSTX funding.

In addition to the overall Texas support, this grant also made a significant impact during the second half of this past school year (2020-2021), supporting Brighter Bites programming in four additional Dallas schools. These new schools allowed the Dallas program to enroll 908 new children and their families, and distribute 3,920 boxes of produce totaling 84,635 pounds, along with thousands of nutrition education materials.

“This generous grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas allowed us to increase the total number of Texas students and families we serve, bringing our new Texas total to over 25,000 families,” said Julie Macpherson, Texas Regional Director of Brighter Bites. “And with Brighter Bites families still dealing with the effects of COVID-19, these steady sources of fresh food, as well as the accompanying nutrition education materials, were welcomed.”

Food insecurity is a major social determinant of health. The collaboration between Brighter Bites, BCBSTX and Feeding America ensured that families not only were able to put healthy, nutrition-dense food on the table, but also establish long-term, sustainable changes in dietary behavior.

“We’ve seen food insecurity in our communities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sheena Payne, director of BCBSTX’s Community Investments. “As the state’s largest health plan, we must be part of the solution when it comes of transforming people lives whether that is providing them with access to cost-effective, high-quality healthcare or helping to reduce barriers in accessing nutritious food. That’s why we teamed up with Feeding America to continue our support of local food banks like Brighter Bites. We want to help ensure everyone has access to healthy, nutritious food.”

Through the collaboration, Brighter Bites Texas has provided thousands of free recipes, tip sheets, and nutrition education materials to help families prepare healthy meals together at home. Brighter Bites also continues to work withteachers to implement its evidence-based health curriculum in the classroom that will help students adopt long-term healthy eating habits.

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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 nearly 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In February 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

 

 

 

Brighter Bites Partners with Harry Chapin Food Bank and Lipman Family Farms in Southwest Florida

Posted on June 15, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES PARTNERS WITH HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK & LIPMAN FAMILY FARMS TO DISTRIBUTE PRODUCE TO STUDENTS & FAMILIES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Naples, FL (June 15, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, partnered with Harry Chapin Food Bank and Lipman Family Farms to ensure Southwest Florida families continue to receive produce after the pandemic impacted their communities. 

At the beginning of the 2021 semester, the three organizations increased its number of families served to over 930, resulting in more than 266,000 pounds of produce distributed and 10,477 boxes delivered to students, their families, and teachers. Each box contained Brussels sprouts, asparagus, eggplant, green beans, apples, oranges, and other items. Thousands of nutrition education materials were also distributed directly to participating Brighter Bites families along with in-class lessons conducted on a regular basis at schools.

“Brighter Bites is so grateful to Harry Chapin Food Bank and to Lipman Family Farms for their support during this unusual school year,” said Brighter Bites Senior Program Director Mike Pomeroy. “Both organizations stepped up to help as soon as the pandemic crisis hit in 2020, providing produce donations and volunteer assistance. This assistance proved to be essential as we continued to serve families at our six elementary schools in Florida.” 

In addition to monetary and product donations, Harry Chapin Food Bank and Lipman Family Farms both provided volunteer support with produce sorting, packing and box distribution. This additional assistance on the ground during this crucial time was much needed and appreciated by Brighter Bites’ staff as well as the elementary schools’ teachers and administrators. 

“It was a true collaboration as our organization, Brighter Bites and Lipman Family Farms worked to meet the needs of the community in Southwest Florida during the 2020-2021 school year,” said Harry Chapin Food Bank President and CEO, Richard LeBer.  

Brighter Bites, which is based in Houston, is dedicated to creating healthy communities by providing produce and nutrition literacy to families in cities throughout the country. The organization works with families in over 120 school settings in seven cities, with each family receiving approximately 25 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce and nutrition education on a weekly basis.

“We are pleased to be a part of these great initiatives launched by Brighter Bites in the Immokalee/Naples area,” said Jaime Weisinger, Director of Community Relations and Government Relations at Lipman Family Farms. “We value our incredible partnerships with Brighter Bites and Harry Chapin Food Bank, and we look forward to making an even greater impact in the coming years.”

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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 nearly 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In February 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About Lipman Family Foundation:

Lipman Family Farms is a full-service tomato and vegetable company operating in both open-field and protected agriculture. Lipman is the largest open-field tomato grower in North America. Lipman also specializes in greenhouse-grown tomatoes and vegetables, with greenhouse operations in Nebraska, Canada, and Mexico. Lipman’s seed-to-shelf supply chain control – research and development, farming, processing, repacking, logistics and marketing – delivers the consistency and quality that has made Lipman Family Farms North America’s most dependable source of fresh tomatoes and vegetables. The Lipman Family Foundation’s commitment to being “Good from the Ground Up” means creating lasting impact in the communities in which they operate.  With a focus on supporting children, education, and hunger relief, they are proud to be involved in a variety of initiatives across the country. Learn more at www.lipmanfamilyfarms.com.

About Harry Chapin Food Bank:

Harry Chapin Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, is the largest hunger-relief organization in Southwest Florida. The food bank rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to children, families, seniors and veterans who are hungry through a series of food distribution programs that feed more than a quarter of a million people each month. Harry Chapin Food bank distributed $59.5 million dollars’ worth of food in fiscal year 2020. Through our food distribution programs, we supplied nearly 34.2 million pounds of food and other grocery items, including 9.6 million pounds of fresh produce. The food is the equivalent of 28.5 million melas distributed to those who are hungry. Our membership with Feeding America enables us to amplify our food and distribution efforts and bring in food from various retail and grocery stores, national food producers and distributors and growers locally, nationally and even internationally. Harry Chapin Food Bank is proud to be named a Blueprint Partner by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Harry Chapin Food Bank is also a United Way partner agency. For more information or to make a gift, call 239.334.7007 or visit harrychapinfoodbank.org.

 

Brighter Bites Names River Fresh Farms Key Partner in Salinas, California

Posted on May 25, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES NAMES RIVER FRESH FARMS KEY PARTNER IN SALINAS, CA

Collaboration Has Resulted in 1,200 Families Served, Thousands of Pounds of Produce Donated to Date

SALINAS, CA (May 25, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits, vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, is pleased to name River Fresh Farms a key partner in Salinas, CA. 

Through this partnership, River Fresh Farms provides supply chain management and logistic support including storing, loading, packing and delivering produce boxes for the Brighter Bites program. To date, the River Fresh Farms partnership has served 1,200 Brighter Bites families and looks forward to supporting 800 additional families through this year.

“We are truly inspired by the dedication River Fresh Farms has brought to our Salinas location,” said Brighter Bites CEO Rich Dachman. “As a company, they have gone above and beyond to not only assist with logistics, but also help pack boxes on the weekends to support the families in this community. River Fresh truly cares and has dedicated resources to make it work. It is partners like this that allow us to make a difference in the communities we serve.”

The location of this particular program makes it different from other partnerships due to its proximity to the vast number of fresh farms in Salinas. Headquartered in the heart of the Salinas Valley, River Fresh Farms offers a wide variety of premium quality value-added salads, commodities, and specialty produce year-round. River Fresh Farms utilizes their list of local distributors to source fresh produce donations to ensure the needs of each Brighter Bites produce box is fulfilled. 

“Partnering with Brighter Bites is our way of giving back to our community,” said Vince Ballesteros, CEO of River Fresh Farms. “When Rich approached us about launching the Brighter Bites program in the Salinas Valley, we knew we had to be involved in some way.”         

Brighter Bites, which is based in Houston, is dedicated to creating healthy communities by providing produce and nutrition literacy to families in cities throughout the country. The organization works with families in over 120 school settings in seven cities, with each family receiving approximately 25 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce and nutrition education on a weekly basis. Brighter Bites families are actively engaged during the program, with data showing that they consume significantly more fresh produce and talk about nutrition more often in their homes. 

To learn more about Brighter Bites, 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 nearly 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In February 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

 

Brighter Bites/American Federation of Teachers Partner to Support Dogan Elementary School in Houston

Posted on May 7, 2021 by -

American Federation of Teachers and Brighter Bites Partner to Support Houston’s Fifth Ward Families

Sponsorship Will Provide Fresh Produce to Dogan Elementary School Students in Houston

Houston, TX (May 7, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables and nutrition education resources directly into families’ hands, today announced a new partnership with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to support students and their families at Dogan Elementary School, located in Houston’s Fifth Ward.

The partnership will ensure that all 200 participating families at Dogan Elementary receive 16 weeks of Brighter Bites programming this spring and fall. As part of the Brighter Bites program, students will receive 20-25 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce and teacher-led nutrition education on a weekly basis. Co-branded American Federation of Teachers/Brighter Bites signage will also be featured throughout the school, promoting healthy eating and wellness.

Kids who are hungry can’t focus on learning, and research shows that they’re more likely to be distracted, anxious and more likely to face other negative impacts like school discipline,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “As part of our effort to make public schools places that support the whole child, and centers where families and communities feel welcome and safe, we want every kid to be able to access healthy meals, so they’re ready to concentrate, grow and thrive. Brighter Bites helps make that mission a reality, and we’re thrilled to work together to support kids and their families.”

With the mission of creating communities of health through fresh food, Brighter Bites’ ultimate goal is to increase access to — and sustainable consumption of — fruits and vegetables to reduce health disparities among populations that are particularly vulnerable to obesity and diet-related diseases.  Since launching in 2012, Brighter Bites has distributed almost 40 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 demystify produce and show just how great it can taste.

“Brighter Bites/Houston is excited to partner with the AFT to support families and teachers at Dogan Elementary. As part of the Brighter Bites program, Dogan’s staff will teach the students CATCH nutrition education lessons during the school year, ensuring that they know the importance of eating fruits and vegetables for their overall health,” said Mike Pomeroy, Senior Director of Programming at Brighter Bites. “Teachers play a significant role in the Brighter Bites program by helping their students build healthy habits for life.”

In addition to this year’s general programming assistance to Brighter Bites, the American Federation of Teachers will also augment its support by providing additional resources to Dogan Elementary’s students and their families.

“The staff at Dogan Elementary School is so grateful to the American Federation of Teachers for helping to support our teachers, our students, and their families this year,” said Dogan Elementary School Principal Margarita Tovar. “The teacher-led nutrition lessons, the distributed produce boxes, and the fun food experiences of the Brighter Bites program will help ensure that the produce is prepared and enjoyed at our families’ homes throughout the program period and beyond.”

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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 more than 40 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 475,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. In 2021 Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About the American Federation of Teachers:

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. AFT represents 1.7 million workers nationwide. Its local affiliate, the Houston Federation of Teachers, represents some 6,000 employees of Houston ISD.