West Pak Avocado helps Brighter Bites feed people in need

West Pak Avocado has donated a load of 134,500 avocados to Brighter Bites, a Houston-based nonprofit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly to families. 

The contribution was made as part of the Murrieta, Calif.-based company’s West Pak Cares committee community involvement program. Brighter Bites has provided more than 50 million pounds of produce and hundreds of thousands of nutrition education materials to more than 500,000 people in Texas, California, Florida, New York and Washington, D.C.

“Doing good is in our DNA,” West Pak Avocado CEO Mario Pacheco said in the release. “As a produce company, we recognize that it is our responsibility to help support initiatives that increase food and nutrition security. That’s why we are thrilled to donate healthy avocados to Brighter Bites’ nutritional program and help ensure those in need can access the high-quality nutrition they deserve.

“While there are people in need of nutrition, no food should ever go to waste,” Pacheco continued. “Whenever a produce company has an excess of product, it makes good sense to make the most of the abundance and donate to worthy food banks and hunger relief non-profits.”

Through its sustainability efforts, West Pak “is dedicated to making a positive difference in the community and doing its part to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to thrive,” according to the release. The company’s fruit donation will be distributed to 33,600 families throughout South Texas who are in need during the holidays.

“Every family deserves healthy fruit, especially for growing kids,” West Pak Avocado Vice President of Sales and Business Development Joe Nava said in the release. “Avocados are a nutrient-dense food, a good source of folate, and provide vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that help support a healthy diet. But it’s the great taste and versatility that makes the avocado so popular with families with kids. We’re proud to spread some of that goodness with our premium avocados this holiday season.” 

"We are so grateful for the donation of avocados to our Texas families. Brighter Bites was happy to offer the additional variety to the produce bags and boxes,” Megan Hall, Brighter Bites regional program director in Texas, said in the release. “The kids and families were so excited to receive this fun and nutritious fruit!"

West Pak Avocado is a family-owned and -operated company with 40 years of experience growing, packing, shipping and distributing premium avocados.