LOS ANGELES, CA - Amplifying its mission of bringing fresh produce access and nutrition education to communities across the nation, Brighter Bites has announced the expansion of its network. The organization has entered a new partnership with produce purveyor Food Forward, adding Los Angeles, California, as the eighth location where the organization will serve students and families.
“We are thrilled to be able to further our reach in California,” said Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer 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.”
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, marking the second California city that Brighter Bites serves, following Salinas, with additional programs expected to launch later this year.
According to a press release, this partnership is made possible through funding from CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California a SNAP-Ed program, as well as Food Forward, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, and New Heights Charter School.
Through the alliance, Food Forward will support these Los Angeles schools with the procurement of 6,000 to 12,000 pounds of fresh produce per week, in addition to 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 and Chief Executive Officer 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.
To bring these benefits to Los Angeles, Brighter Bites has partnered with six Los Angeles-based schools which will serve around 900 families with over 144,000 pounds of fresh produce, as well as scheduled 120 nutrition education lessons to support the community in its quest for better health decisions. The organization expects these numbers to grow throughout the year.
“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!” commented 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.”
As Brighter Bites continues to evolve and expand, keep clicking on AndNowUKnow for the latest updates.
