SunsetRocks raises $130K for Brighter Bites; more to come

(Courtesy Mastronardi Produce)

Note: The deadline to RSVP for SunsetRocks is 5 p.m. Eastern Oct. 12.

Companies have pledged $130,000 in donations to Brighter Bites as the recipient of the SunsetRocks events at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

It’s the first time that Mastronardi Produce, the presenter of the SunsetRocks concert at past PMAs and the virtual Fresh Summit Oct. 13-15, has chosen a fundraising beneficiary.

Mastronardi and Enza Zaden are the lead supporters, according to a news release from Brighter Bites, with matching funds from what’s donated during the Oct. 13 event. 

Others that have pledged support are: Sunkist Growers, EarthFresh and H-E-B (matching what’s pledged during the event), Chelan Fresh, Grimmway Farms, Good Foods, Calavo/Renaissance Food Group and New York Apple Sales.

As in the past, the event features a “surprise big-name recording artist,” according to the release. It begins at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13.

The deadline to RSVP for SunsetRocks is 5 p.m. Eastern Oct. 12.

“We are so grateful to these organizations whose contributions will support the Brighter Bites mission,” Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites, said in the release. “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.”

With dollars raised during the event being matched by sponsors, Dachman said the event will help many families. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated problems faced by families in need, and Brighter Bites has worked to maintain the the program even though many students aren’t attending classes on-site at schools.

 Brighter Bites serves students and their families in Houston, Dallas, Austin, New York City, the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and Southwest Florida. The program will soon expand to Salinas, Calif., according the release.

Related story:

The show will go on with Sunset Rocks at Fresh Summit

 

 

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