News Type: Press Release

Brighter Bites Announces New Program in Los Angeles, with Key Partners Food Forward and CalFresh Healthy Living

Posted on February 22, 2022 by -

BRIGHTER BITES ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM LAUNCH IN LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES (February 22, 2022) – Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announces a new partnership with produce supplier Food Forward to add Los Angeles as the eighth location where the organization will serve students and families. This partnership is made possible through funding from CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California a SNAP-Ed program.

Through this expansion, Brighter Bites aims to improve the health of students and families in the Los Angeles area by providing nutrition education and access to free and fresh produce weekly, along with tips on how to store and cook the fruits and vegetables properly. This will be the second location in California that Brighter Bites serves, following Salinas (2021), with additional programs anticipated to launch later this year.

“We are thrilled to be able to further our reach in California,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “We are extremely thankful for the backing from Food Forward and our other local partners in the greater Los Angeles area along with the produce industry as a whole, and look forward to continuing to grow our reach across the country.”

The arrival of Brighter Bites in this market is made possible through the support of several key partners, including Food Forward, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, and New Heights Charter School. Food Forward will support these Los Angeles schools through produce procurement of 6,000 to 12,000 pounds of fresh produce per week and provide logistical support.

“The launch of this new partnership with Brighter Bites allows Food Forward to leverage our food and environmental expertise by meeting communities where they are to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to families in underserved areas,” said Rick Nahmias, Founder & CEO of Food Forward. “Through our plant based model, we hope to build awareness on health equity, by educating communities about their own health, along with the environment and economic impact of their food choices.” 

Food Forward uses a mix of staff and volunteer led programs to recover and distribute upwards of 60+ million pounds of fresh produce to community partners that serve people experiencing food insecurity. Since 2009 they have distributed over 225 million pounds of produce that would otherwise have gone to waste and have won multiple awards for their innovation, leadership, and commitment to health equity.

“What I like about the nutrition education is that it’s super easy and accessible. Getting produce into the classroom was really exciting for the kids as well as the teachers!” said Yessenia Rivas-Hernandez, Family Services Coordinator, Camino Nuevo Castellanos Charter Academy. “We’re already seeing Brighter Bites making a positive impact on our community as families are talking about what they are going to make with the produce provided.”

To date, Brighter Bites has partnered with six Los Angeles-based schools which will serve around 900 families with over 144,000 pounds of fresh produce. In addition, the organization has scheduled 120 nutrition education lessons to support the community in its quest for better health decisions. These numbers are expected to grow throughout the year, and beyond.

Since launching in 2012, Brighter Bites has distributed more than 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 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, 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.

About Food Forward

Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. For more details about Food Forward’s health and environmental work, statistics and more, visit foodforward.org or contact media@foodforward.org.

 

Brighter Bites Appoints Produce Alliance President and Long-Term Produce Executive Melissa Ackerman to Board of Directors

Posted on February 16, 2022 by -

BRIGHTER BITES APPOINTS MELISSA ACKERMAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Produce Alliance President & Long-Time Executive To Strengthen Nonprofit’s Alliances With Produce Partners

HOUSTON, TX (February 16, 2022) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announces Melissa Ackerman as the newest member of its board of directors. Ackerman will develop Brighter Bites’ partnerships with produce companies and organizations throughout the country, further strengthening its ability to distribute fresh produce and nutrition education to students and families. In this role, she will also help guide the organization as it expands beyond the eight cities in which it currently operates. 

Ackerman is currently president of Produce Alliance (PA), a national produce company specializing in consulting and purchasing of produce from field to fork. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, PA was instrumental in delivering fresh food to those in need through the USDA’s “Farmers to Families Food Boxes” program. Ackerman played a pivotal role in the program, which ran during 2020 and 2021, and delivered over 100 million pounds of food in 9 million boxes to Americans. 

“Melissa Ackerman’s experience at PA, and with the “Farmers to Families Food Boxes” program, syncs directly with Brighter Bites’ mission to create communities of health through fresh food,” said Lisa Helfman, founder and board chair of Brighter Bites. “We are thrilled to have her insight as we build stronger relationships within the produce community and expand into more cities around the country.” 

Ackerman joined PA in 2012 and prior to serving as the President, she was Associate General Counsel, VP of Sales, and Executive VP of Sales. Ackerman has been a key player to PA’s growth in size, and its expanded impact within the produce industry. She most recently created the PA Foundation, a philanthropic arm of PA designed to be a first-line responder to emergent humanitarian situations. 

Additionally, Ackerman sits on the Board of Directors for the International Fresh Produce Association where she is the Chair for the Food Service, and she also serves on the Advisory Boards of Freight Farms, The Center for Food Integrity’s Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Initiative and YPO Chicago Chapter. Ackerman was a winner of Produce Business’ 40 Under Forty Best and Brightest in 2018.  

“The evolution of food into mission-based programs that drives food equity and builds viable food ecosystems for all Americans is the heart of my life’s work,” said Ackerman. “I’m excited to bring that passion and experience coupled with Brighter Bites impact in schools and communities to continue shaping food and nutrition security.”

To accomplish the goal of making fresh produce more accessible to families in need and ultimately improving health outcomes, Brighter Bites utilizes three pillars; produce distribution, nutrition education and a fun food experience. 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, Southwest Florida and Salinas, CA. In January 2022, Brighter Bites expanded its programming to Los Angeles. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org. 

 

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.