Brighter Bites, a nonprofit organization that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands, announces Melissa Ackerman as the newest member of its board of directors. Ackerman will develop Brighter Bites’ partnerships with produce companies and organizations throughout the country, further strengthening its ability to distribute fresh produce and nutrition education to students and families. She will also help guide the organization as it expands beyond the eight cities in which it currently operates.
Ackerman is currently president of Produce Alliance (PA), a national produce company specializing in consulting and purchasing of produce from field to fork. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, PA was instrumental in delivering fresh food to those in need through the USDA’s “Farmers to Families Food Boxes” program. Ackerman played a pivotal role in the program, which ran during 2020 and 2021, and delivered more than 100 million pounds of food in 9 million boxes to Americans.
“Melissa Ackerman’s experience at PA, and with the “Farmers to Families Food Boxes” program, syncs directly with Brighter Bites’ mission to create communities of health through fresh food,” said Lisa Helfman, founder and board chair of Brighter Bites. “We are thrilled to have her insight as we build stronger relationships within the produce community and expand into more cities around the country.”
Ackerman joined PA in 2012 and prior to serving as the president, she was associate general counsel, VP of sales and executive VP of sales. Ackerman has been a key player in PA’s growth in size and its expanded impact within the produce industry. She most recently created the PA Foundation, a philanthropic arm of PA designed to be a first-line responder to emergent humanitarian situations.
Additionally, Ackerman sits on the Board of Directors for the International Fresh Produce Association where she is the chair for the foodservice market segment, and she also serves on the advisory boards of Freight Farms, The Center for Food Integrity’s Racial Justice, Inclusion and Diversity Initiative and YPO Chicago Chapter. Ackerman was a winner of Produce Business’ 40 Under Forty Best and Brightest in 2018.
“The evolution of food into mission-based programs that drives food equity and builds viable food ecosystems for all Americans is the heart of my life’s work,” said Ackerman. “I’m excited to bring that passion and experience coupled with Brighter Bites' impact in schools and communities to continue shaping food and nutrition security.”
For more information:
Jessica Schneider
Brighter Bites
[email protected]
https://brighterbites.org/