HOUSTON, TX - In conjunction with the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program, Brighter Bites is partnering with a fleet of produce suppliers to ensure 25,000 families continue to receive approximately 20-25 pounds of produce a week. Since mid-May, Brighter Bites has partnered with DiMare Fresh, Tomato Thyme, GoFresh/Hardie’s Fresh Foods, and more to purchase unused fruits and vegetables, package the produce into boxes, and distribute it to families—both Brighter Bites families and an additional 25,000 families that live in the same cities where the nonprofit currently operates.
“Brighter Bites is so pleased to be a part of this USDA emergency initiative,” said company CEO Rich Dachman. “We look forward to continuing to serve as an integral part of this federal program as we find new ways to identify, package, and deliver nutritious food to those in desperate need across the country.”
Director of Sourcing Jennifer Boone added, “Brighter Bites is incredibly proud to partner with Coastal Sunbelt Produce, DiMare Fresh, Hardie’s Fresh Foods, Perfect Pact, and others as we all work to distribute nutritious food to families experiencing food insecurity during this time. As an organization, we were adamant that school closures would not stop us from continuing to carry out our mission, but we knew that we would need to shift our model. We are honored that produce distributors around the country trusted us to ensure families received their produce boxes from the Farmers to Families program.”
According to a press release, the following include the successes of Brighter Bites’ collaboration with produce suppliers:
Brighter Bites Houston, TX, with DiMare Fresh, GoFresh/Hardie’s Fresh Foods
- 20 locations, including schools, churches, and other community sites
- 18,000 total boxes distributed weekly
- 19 lbs per box
Brighter Bites Austin, TX, with DiMare Fresh
- 9 locations, including schools, parks and rec centers, and YMCAs
- 4,500 total boxes distributed weekly
- 19 lbs per box
Brighter Bites Dallas, TX, with GoFresh/Hardie’s Fresh Foods
- 16 locations, including schools, YMCAs, and other community sites
- 9,000 total boxes distributed weekly
- 18-28 lbs per box
Brighter Bites NYC with City Harvest, Perfect Pact, Tomato Thyme
- 10 locations, including schools
- 5,770 total boxes distributed weekly
- 15-20 lbs per box
Brighter Bites Washington, D.C., with Coastal Sunbelt Produce
- 20 locations, including schools, churches, and other community sites
- 9,050 total boxes distributed weekly
- 24 lbs per box
Brighter Bites, SW Florida with Perfect Pact and Marjon Specialty Foods
- 3 locations, including community sites and YMCAs
- 2,300 total boxes distributed weekly
- 20 lbs per box
"We have been absolutely blessed to receive these generous and kind produce donations. The response from our community has been overwhelming. We are thankful for the partnership forged by Council Member Dannielle Glaros, and for the compassionate work of the Brighter Bites team,” said Pastor Everett Pope of United Baptist Church in response to receiving the produce boxes from Brighter Bites and the Greater Riverdale Partnership in Prince George’s County, Maryland. “We the people are grateful. This is the type of unity needed to survive the times."
In addition to working with the USDA, Brighter Bites has also provided $25 produce vouchers bi-weekly to its families. The vouchers allow families to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from their local grocery stores.
The nonprofit has also upped its communication and marketing efforts, developing a new Family Resources page on its website, increasing the frequency of its family newsletters, establishing social media channels in all six cities to increase access to program staff and resources, and enhancing communication with schools. These initiatives are providing information about local food distributions, mental health helplines, stress coping tips, and more.
Thank you to produce industry leaders like Brighter Bites for keeping produce accessible to all during these trying times. AndNowUKnow will continue to follow along with the freshest industry updates.
