Brighter Bites receives increased funding from Mission Produce, Sunset and Taylor Farms

Houston-based Brighter Bites has received increased funding from key industry partners Mission Produce, Sunset, and Taylor Farms.

The additional donations will benefit Dallas and Salinas, Calif., location programming, according to a news release.

“Since I first attended [International Fresh Produce Association’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,” Brighter Bites CEO Rich Dachman said in the release. “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.” 

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, Texas; New York City; the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area; Southwest Florida; Salinas; Los Angeles; Bakersfield, Calif.; and San Antonio.

Giving to the cause

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, according to the release. These typically include a variety of produce to broaden families' and students’ palettes and knowledge on fruits and vegetables available for them, the release said. 

“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,” Bruce Taylor, chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, said in the release. “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, the release said.

“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,” Mission Produce President and CEO Steve Barnard said in the release. “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 at Mastronardi Produce,” Paul Mastronardi, president and CEO of Mastronardi Produce Ltd./Sunset, said in the release. “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.