Despite the abundance of food grown in the United States, millions of Americans suffer from food insecurity, according to Feeding America. Access to fresh, healthy produce has been a trending topic over the last few years, and many nonprofits have rolled up their sleeves to serve communities in need. One of these nonprofits is Brighter Bites, founded by Lisa Helfman and Dr. Shreela Sharma.
For several years, Lisa Helfman and her family took part in a weekly fruit and vegetable co-op, and she watched her children's eating habits dramatically transform. She was inspired to replicate this type of positive change in underserved communities identified as "food deserts," or areas where access to grocery stores stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables is sorely limited. Because nutrition education in these communities is often equally lacking, Lisa's vision was to bring a produce co-op to schools in these neighborhoods that included an educational component. So, she created a collaborative partnership with Dr. Shreela Sharma, an expert in nutrition and a professor of epidemiology at UTHealth School of Public Health, and they launched the program now known as Brighter Bites, which currently operates in 11 cities across the country.
With the start of a new school year, there is no better time than to reflect on the impact of Brighter Bites from the past 2022-23 school year. Together with fourth-generation greenhouse company Mastronardi, Brighter Bites has impacted more than 42,000 families, distributing 7.5 million pounds of produce to more than 190 schools across ten cities. "It's a privilege to be a part of an initiative like this and to see how many families were able to access fresh produce and nutrition education thanks to Brighter Bites this year. The Brighter Bites team does incredible work in our communities, and we're honored to support a mission that's so closely connected with ours," said Dean Taylor, VP of Business Development at Mastronardi.
Mastronardi has been a partner of Brighter Bites since 2019, supporting communities throughout North America. "SUNSET/Mastronardi was one of the first to step up and support us from day one. We are so grateful for their continued support. They truly are an extraordinary example of how the produce industry can make a huge difference in the lives and health of those who need it most. We are grateful to partner up with a company that is so like-minded in our mission!" commented Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites.
In January, Brighter Bites launched its tenth city in San Antonio, Texas. In its first semester, Brighter Bites San Antonio was able to serve six schools within Harlandale ISD, which directly impacted approximately 720 families with over 115,200 pounds of fresh produce delivered to its participants. In Austin, over 974,479 pounds of produce went to over 4,700 families in twenty-four schools. "Last year, Mastronardi donations from Laredo were used to bolster our offerings to families in Austin and San Antonio," said Lori Hoadley, Senior Operations Coordinator at Brighter Bites in Austin. "The families we serve were delighted by the beautiful variety of peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes."
Brighter Bites has received donations from multiple organizations, but they also purchase additional produce to achieve their serving and variety goals. "Donations help our funds go further, giving us the ability to reach more families in underserved communities," Lori added. "Donations were incredibly impactful and went a long way toward helping us achieve our mission of reaching low-income families with fresh produce and nutrition education." That's where Mastronardi played an instrumental role. "We are passionate about supporting local causes with a focus on nonprofit organizations and initiatives that support youth and nutrition,” said Dean.
Through strategic partnerships with greenhouse produce companies like Mastronardi, the impact of Brighter Bites programs has reached thousands of families across the US.
For more information:
Sunset
www.sunsetgrown.com