News Type: Press Releases

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 Continues 8-Year Partnership with Houston Food Bank to Serve Students, Families in Need

Posted on February 2, 2021 by -

BRIGHTER BITES CONTINUES 8-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH HOUSTON FOOD BANK TO SERVE STUDENTS & FAMILIES IN NEED 

The Partnership Has Resulted In Over 1.2 Million Pounds Of Fresh Produce Donated And Counting

HOUSTON, TX (Feb. 2, 2021) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, will continue partnering with the Houston Food Bank, its most critical and longest-standing Houston-area partner, to help serve families in need of fresh food.

Throughout the fall of 2020 and into 2021, Brighter Bites and the Houston Food Bank ensured local families received the fresh produce and nutrition education on schedule, even as the area experienced the uncertainty of the pandemic.

When COVID-19 halted Brighter Bites’ model utilizing parent volunteers to pack donated bulk produce, the Houston Food Bank stepped in to help with continued donations of a variety of fresh produce items, warehouse space, and volunteer support to pack produce boxes in their facility.

“Our Brighter Bites community is so grateful to the Houston Food Bank for its long-standing willingness to help, and its flexibility as we all navigate the evolving needs of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brighter Bites CEO Rich Dachman. “The Houston Food Bank’s ability to adapt its food supply chain, grant us warehouse space within its facilities, and operate so nimbly, allowed us to continue our work to distribute fresh produce to students, their families, and teachers in Houston.”

Since Brighter Bites 2020-2021 school year programming began in September, the Houston Food Bank has donated over 1.2 million pounds of fresh produce to ensure all 11,000 Houston–area Brighter Bites families received the immune-boosting produce they so critically need during the pandemic.

Brighter Bites and the Houston Food Bank hope to see even more growth this spring with so many efficient systems already in place. Volunteers from both organizations familiar with sorting, packing and distributing the donated fruits and vegetables, will be ready to continue the organizations’ missions of serving families in the greater Houston area.

“Houston Food Bank and Brighter Bites have a shared goal to provide nutritious fresh produce to the community and those impacted by food insecurity,” said Brian Greene, president/CEO of the Food Bank. “Our work is not just critical during the pandemic but beyond, and after a strong eight-year relationship, I am confident that we will continue to expand our reach throughout Houston even after the pandemic subsides.”

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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 2021 Brighter Bites will expand its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

 About the Houston Food Bank:

Houston Food Bank’s mission is to provide food for better lives. In the last fiscal year, which includes COVID-19 response, we provided access to 159 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast Texas through our 1,500 community partners of food pantries, soup kitchens, social service providers and schools. Filling gaps on plates, we have a strong focus on healthy foods and fresh produce. In collaboration with our community, we advocate for policy change and racial equity, and promote dialogue on ways to increase access to food and to improve the lives of those in our communities, including services and connections to programs that address the root causes of hunger and are aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability, nutrition education, job training, health management, and help with securing state-funded assistance. We are a resource for individuals and families in times of hardship. Houston Food Bank works alongside our partner food banks in Montgomery County, Galveston County and Brazos Valley. Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Visit us online. Website: houstonfoodbank.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehoustonfoodbank; Twitter: @houstonfoodbank; Instagram: @houstonfoodbank; YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/houstonfoodbank

 

Brighter Bites Appoints Chelsea Collins to Board of Directors – TX-Based Educator to Strengthen Community Relationships

Posted on December 14, 2020 by -

BRIGHTER BITES APPOINTS CHELSEA COLLINS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Texas-based Educator to Strengthen Nonprofit’s Community Relationships and Education Efforts 

HOUSTON, TX (Dec. 14, 2020) – Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announces the addition of Chelsea Collins to its board of directors to further strengthen community relations in its seven cities and continue to develop the company’s nutrition education pillar.  

“Chelsea Collins has a strong track record of engaging communities and bringing people together,” said Lisa Helfman, founder and board chair of Brighter Bites. “We are thrilled to have her guidance as we build stronger relationships within the communities and schools we serve as we carry out our mission to create communities of health through fresh food.”

Collins has educated youth in charter and private school systems, including within the KIPP Network Schools program and the Kinkaid School. She also directed the Engineering Math and Science Summer Institute, a collaborative program with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) targeting under-represented minority students, and co-chaired the National Association of Independent School’s (NAIS) People of Color Conference and was an Aspiring Heads Fellow through NAIS. 

Food literacy is a deep root of Brighter Bites and with over 20 years of experience educating students, Collins is a natural fit to enhance Brighter Bites’ board. A longtime Houstonian, Collins recently made the move to San Antonio where she currently serves as the head of school for St. Luke’s Episcopal and is pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M University. 

“Education has always been a passion of mine,” said Collins. “To be able to combine my enthusiasm for education with an organization I believe in wholeheartedly is something that greatly excites me. I’m honored to work with the incredible team at Brighter Bites to engage with the principals, teachers and families in the cities in which we serve, providing them with a strong sense of community, as well as the fresh food and nutrition education they need so much right now.”

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 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 2021 Brighter Bites will expand its programming to Salinas, California. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

 

Brighter Bites & Key Partners Relaunch in NYC Schools, Delivering 1M lbs of Free Produce to Children

Posted on November 2, 2020 by -

Media Contact:

Melanie Button, Regional Program Director

melanie.button@brighterbites.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brighter Bites Relaunches in NYC Schools to Deliver 1 Million Pounds of Free Produce to Children and Families

Brighter Bites, the Connected Chef, D’Arrigo New York, and City Harvest join forces to impact 2,600+ families across 12 schools

New York, NY (November 2, 2020) – Brighter Bites returned to NYC schools in October with a promise to deliver 1 million pounds of free, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with nutrition education resources, to children and their families despite the ongoing pandemic. The evidence-based program feeds with impact by pairing 20-25 pounds boxes of produce with nutrition education for parents and their children. The program will serve thousands of families at participating schools in Woodside, Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Brownsville, Bushwick, Manhattan Valley, and Hamilton Heights.

Brighter Bites relaunched its program with the Connected Chef, D’Arrigo New York, and City Harvest on the heels of a new report showing how the COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated and exacerbated persistent food access problems throughout New York City. Communities that lack consistent access to healthy affordable food concurrently experience high rates of food insecurity and diet-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and complications from COVID-19. The Brighter Bites program responds to these concerns with a targeted, school based program that focuses on addressing the needs of families safely.

City Harvest has committed 30,000 pounds of produce per week for the program with Hunt’s Point based distributor D’Arrigo New York committing an additional weekly donation of hard to source family favorites such as bananas, pears, peaches and more. “We are thrilled to be teaming back up with Brighter Bites to service the city that we love.” said Gabriela D’Arrigo, VP of Marketing and Communications at D’Arrigo New York. “With all the uncertainty that 2020 has brought, access to healthy nutrition should not be another ‘thing’ to add to the list of concerns for families.”

Distributions began on October 7th and will continue weekly throughout the school year. During the first weeks of the program families took home 10-12 items, including tomatoes, bananas, onion, pears, apples, cauliflower, cucumber, celery, peaches, winter squash, and more. Distributions are planned to continue regardless of whether or not schools remain open for in-person learning. As part of the program, Brighter Bites supports a ‘train the trainer’ model in which teachers teach in-class (or virtual) nutrition lessons. Additionally, parents utilize the Brighter Bites App to access a vast library of recipes, tip sheets, and produce how-to’s, ensuring that they have the knowledge and skills to incorporate the produce into home cooked meals and snacks.

“The ground is shifting under parents’ feet every day,” said Melanie Button, Regional Program Director, Brighter Bites. “Families can rely on our program for ready access to fresh, immune-boosting foods throughout the year. The communities we serve have been especially hard hit by COVID-19 and the food we provide is more critical than ever.”

The produce first travels to the Long Island City headquarters of The Connected Chef where it is packed into family friendly boxes before it is received at each school. During a typical year, this packing would have happened via parent volunteers at each school. Due to COVID-19, large groups of parents cannot convene at schools to do so. The Connected Chef’s experience with their LifeLine delivery program, which provides weekly deliveries of nutrient-dense foods to Western Queens residents, made them the perfect choice to be hired by Brighter Bites to oversee the produce packing and delivery. As an added benefit, funds from the Brighter Bites program will allow The Connected Chef to build out their distribution center as a resource for Queens and Brooklyn mutual aid groups.

Brighter Bites is seeking contributions to sustain this work over the full 2020-2021 school year. Those interested in learning more or making a donation may visit www.brighterbites.org/fund/newyork. A donation of just $15 provides a month’s worth of produce for a participating family.

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. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

Walmart Foundation Grants $1.5M to Support Brighter Bites Programming

Posted on October 20, 2020 by -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brighter Bites Receives Walmart Foundation Grant to Expand Access to Fresh Produce and Nutrition Education Across Schools this Fall

The $1.5 Million Grant Will Help Scale Brighter Bites’ Ongoing Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic to Reach 30,000 Families Nationwide

Houston, TX (October 20, 2020) – Brighter Bites, a Houston-based nonprofit that provides underserved families with fresh produce and nutrition education to improve health outcomes, today announced it has received an additional $1.5 million grant from the Walmart Foundation to expand programming in diverse communities throughout the country. The grant will support Brighter Bites’ ongoing response to the Covid-19 pandemic and nutrition crisis by fueling growth in Houston, Dallas, Austin, the Washington, D.C. metro area, New York City, and Florida, as well as expansion to Brighter Bites’ first city in California.

The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have exacerbated the worst hunger and nutrition crisis in recent history. Health disparities in nutrition and obesity have manifested in minority groups that face hurdles to accessing healthy, affordable food experiencing disproportionate rates of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths from Covid-19.

“Access to healthy food builds the foundation for good health in communities,” said Eileen Hyde, director of sustainability, food systems and food access for Walmart.org. “Our goal is to improve people’s ability to more consistently consume nutritious food, and we’re thrilled to support Brighter Bites who work every day to do just that.”

This summer the organization experienced a 2,000% increase in demand for services compared to the same time period last year and has been forced to pivot operations in order to safely bring its three-part program back to schools this fall.

This school year Brighter Bites will enroll nearly 30,000 underserved families in the program across 126 schools ls nationwide. Each week, participating families will receive specially curated boxes filled with 20-25 pounds of 8-12 different produce items, along with nutrition education materials and recipes to help families prepare healthy meals together at home.

Brighter Bites traditionally utilizes a volunteer co-op model with parent and community volunteers helping to bag the bulk produce on school campuses. However, due to safety concerns the organization is now paying distributors to pre-package the produce into individual cardboard boxes for families to receive via carpool lines. Brighter Bites is also ramping up its work with farmers to facilitate the recovery and distribution of fresh, high-quality produce that would otherwise go to waste.

“Brighter Bites is incredibly grateful for the Walmart Foundation’s ongoing support, especially at a time when an unprecedented number of families are struggling to put fresh, immune-boosting food on the table,” said Rich Dachman, Brighter Bites CEO. “This grant provides the resources we need to rapidly innovate in order to safely bring our program back to schools this fall without missing a beat.”

And whereas before Brighter Bites’ staff would distribute printed nutrition education materials to families at in-person events, this year the entire process will be streamlined with families scanning a QR code on their produce boxes to access all of the corresponding recipes, tip sheets, and materials via the new Brighter Bites Mobile App. Brighter Bites will also be conducting virtual cooking demonstrations, and engaging with families at a higher level through online channels and social media.

Through third-party research partnership with the UTHealth School of Public Health, Brighter Bites is able to demonstrate impact in terms of improving families’ nutrition and long-term health. A few topline statistics that UTHealth researchers reported from last school year include:

  • Of the families who participated in Brighter Bites over the 2019-2020 school year, 99% of parents reported their family ate more fruits and veggies during the program, while 97% reported continuing to eat more produce on their own during the summer after.
  • As compared to the shopping and consumption habits of families at baseline, by the end of the spring participating families reported a significant decrease in the amount of added sugars consumed, as well as a significant increase in eating produce-heavy meals together at home.

About Brighter Bites:

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. 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 distributed 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. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit BrighterBites.org.

About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart.org represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation. By leaning in where the business has unique strengths, Walmart.org  works to tackle key social issues and collaborate with others to spark long-lasting systemic change. Walmart has stores in 27 countries, employing more than 2 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Walmart.org is helping people live better by supporting programs that work to accelerate upward job mobility for frontline workers, address hunger and make healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality, and build strong communities where Walmart operates. To learn more, visit www.walmart.org or find us on Twitter @walmart.org.

Brighter Bites Announces Sponsors of SUNSET Rocks Event

Posted on October 9, 2020 by -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brighter Bites Announces Sponsors of Upcoming SUNSET® Rocks Event

Industry Supporters of Brighter Bites Collectively Help Raise Over $130,000 for the Nonprofit, Commit to Matching Funds Raised During the Event

Houston, TX (October 9, 2020) – As the first-ever nonprofit recipient of the annual SUNSETRocks event during the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, Brighter Bites announced today it has raised over $130,000 from nine generous industry sponsors. Mastronardi Produce (SUNSET®) and Enza Zaden are the lead sponsors committing funds, as well as additional matching funds for contributions raised throughout the virtual event. Other sponsors that have committed to matching contributions made during the event include Sunkist, EarthFresh, and H-E-B.

Chelan Fresh, Grimmway Farms, Good Foods, Calavo Foods/ Renaissance Food Group, and New York Apple Sales have also committed to supporting Brighter Bites through the SUNSET® Rocks event as contributing sponsors.

The 2020 SUNSET® Rocks Virtual Party will take place on Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30pm EST as part of PMA’s three-day conference (October 13-15) and will feature a surprise, big-name recording artist. Front-line workers from sponsors who have been so instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic will also be recognized for their tireless work to keep the food systems moving. Virtual attendees will have the ability to donate to Brighter Bites throughout the entire three-day conference.

“We are so grateful to these organizations whose contributions will support the Brighter Bites mission,” said Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites. “I would especially like to thank SUNSET® and Enza Zaden for their extraordinary generosity in selecting Brighter Bites as the beneficiary of its 2020 event, as well as PMA for organizing the three-day virtual convening. Every dollar raised during the event will be matched by the sponsors, and will help so many of our families who are in need right now.”

To read more about next week’s Fresh Summit and Sunset® Rocks concert, and to donate funds to Brighter Bites, visit www.sunsetgrown.com, www.pma.com or www.brighterbites.org.

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 25 million pounds of produce and 100,000s of nutrition education materials to more than 275,000 individuals (including teachers!) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, Southwest Florida, and soon in Salinas, CA. The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) recently named Brighter Bites the winner of the 2018 PHA Impact Award. In 2016, Brighter Bites won the Texas Health Champion Award. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit BrighterBites.org.

 

Press Release: Brighter Bites Starts Fall Programming in DC Area, with Grant from Amerigroup

Posted on September 15, 2020 by -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brighter Bites Begins School Year by Increasing Access to Fresh Produce and Food Literacy in Prince George’s County, MD

$40,000 grant from Amerigroup to support ongoing COVID-19 distributions and Brighter Bites expansion in the fall

Prince George’s County, MD (September 15, 2020) – Brighter Bites is pleased to begin its general programming in the Washington, D.C. area this month as schools open during the continuing COVID-19 outbreak and food insecurity among families continues.

Food insecurity in Prince George’s County was already a massive problem prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, with an estimated 10.3% of residents identifying as food insecure. Now, more than 30,000 residents in the county have filed for unemployment since March 14 and food access disparities across the county have skyrocketed.

To address these rising levels of food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19, Brighter Bites and Amerigroup have partnered to expand access to fresh produce and nutrition education to residents in Prince George’s County, MD. Brighter Bites will use the $40,000 grant from Amerigroup to support ongoing emergency community distributions, which are currently serving more than 9,000 families with 20-25 pounds of fresh produce per week, as well as expansion of the organization’s school-based programming in the fall.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a glaring light on how those living in economically disadvantaged communities without reliable access to fresh, healthy food are bearing the heaviest burden of COVID-19 infections,” said Northeast Regional Director of Brighter Bites Melanie Button. “We are thrilled to join forces with Amerigroup to expand our reach throughout Prince George’s County and address food insecurity as a major social determinant of health. Together, we’re ensuring that families are not only able to put food on the table, but more importantly consume the right foods to keep them nourished and their immune systems strong.”

Brighter Bites is one of dozens of nonprofits in the area that have experienced a surge in demand for services during the pandemic, and the demand will continue as schools begin this week. The organization is currently distributing 9,050 boxes of fresh food per week to more than 20 schools, churches, and community centers but demand has increasedmore than 500% since the beginning of March. In addition to the fresh produce, Brighter Bites also provides families with digital and printed nutrition education resources to promote long-term, sustainable changes in dietary behavior.

“At Amerigroup, we understand the vital role that healthy food can play in promoting the overall health and well-being of the communities we support and it is especially important for local youth,” said Vince Ancona, Amerigroup Maryland Medicaid Plan President. “We know that the food access gap for low-income Maryland residents has widened during the pandemic and our goal in partnering with Brighter Bites is to ensure that residents can obtain the food and resources they need to help them during this health crisis.”

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 30 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 350,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About Amerigroup Maryland

Amerigroup Maryland has provided health care coverage since 1999. Statewide, we serve approximately 288,000 members in the Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Amerigroup Maryland is one of the state’s largest Managed Care Organization (MCO) and is one of the largest MCOs in Baltimore City and the counties of Baltimore, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel. Employees share genuine pride in making a difference in the lives of people who might need a little extra help.

 

Press Release: Brighter Bites and 99 Cents Only Stores Launch Produce Coupon Program

Posted on August 3, 2020 by -

Brighter Bites Launches Produce Coupon Program with 99 Cents Only Stores to Continue to Support Food Insecure Families in Mesquite, TX

Four 99 Cents Only Stores Accepting $25 Coupons

Houston, TX (August 3, 2020) – The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has brought much uncertainty into all of our lives, and this uncertainty is especially magnified for those who identify as food insecure. With widespread school closures, 25,000 families in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Southwest Florida who normally rely on nonprofit Brighter Bites for weekly produce and nutrition education are now in even greater need of daily nourishment.

Today, Brighter Bites and 99 Cents Only stores are announcing a new initiative aimed at ensuring that all families who are currently enrolled in Brighter Bites within Mesquite ISD schools gain access to fresh produce. Brighter Bites is rolling out the initiative for over 700 families, and coupons will be mailed out today.

The families are currently Brighter Bites participants at the following schools: Cannaday Elementary School, Floyd Elementary School, Hanby Elementary School, Hodges Elementary School, Range Elementary School and Seabourn Elementary School. Families will receive four $25 coupons, each valid for a timed, two-week period. The coupons are valid for produce purchases at the following 99 Cents Only stores:

  • 3330 N. Galloway Avenue, Mesquite, TX 75150

  • 950 W. Centerville Road, Garland, TX 75041

  • 1445 W Buckingham Rd, Garland, TX 75042

  • 9009 Bruton Road, Dallas, TX 75217

“Our families need healthy food now more than ever,” said Brighter Bites Dallas Program Director Julie Macpherson. “In addition to our Mesquite ISD school distributions, Brighter Bites will also provide fruits and vegetables to our families through this coupon program. This partnership will give families even more access to fresh food, and we are grateful for 99 Cents Only’s support.”

Under normal circumstances, Brighter Bites works with their families across 100 plus schools in six cities, with each family receiving 25 pounds of fresh, seasonal produce and nutrition education on a weekly basis. Brighter Bites families were actively engaged in the program, and data shows that they were consuming significantly more fresh produce and talking about nutrition more often in their homes, too.

“We have been following the great work of Brighter Bites for years and are impressed with its ability to distribute produce quickly to children and their families,” said Bruce Levine, Chief Merchandising Officer of 99 Cents Only. “We are delighted to participate in this program and to support families in need during these challenging times and in the months ahead.”

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 27 million pounds of produce and millions of nutrition education materials to more than 275,000 individuals (including teachers) in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and Southwest Florida. To learn more about Brighter Bites visit www.brighterbites.org.

About 99 Cents Only Stores:

Founded in 1982, 99 Cents Only Stores LLC is the leading operator of extreme value stores in California and the Southwestern United States. 99 Cents currently operates 386 stores located in California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada. 99 Cents Only Stores LLC offers a broad assortment of name brand and other attractively priced merchandise and compelling seasonal product offerings. For more information, visit www.99only.com.