BOSTON, MA - Helping our foodservice partners has been of paramount importance within the industry ever since the onset of COVID-19, and Ocean Spray is no exception. The cooperative recently launched its Ocean Spray Farmers for Chefs Alliance alongside new partners, Massachusetts Restaurant United and the COREcares Foundation. This hospitality stimulus will help qualifying independent restaurants cover rent, utilities, and payroll costs, as well as offering discounts on the brand’s cranberry products.

“As a cooperative, Ocean Spray farmers know the importance of building and feeding communities, and share these values with local independent restaurants,” said Chris O’Connor, Vice President of Marketing at Ocean Spray. “Restaurants are of paramount cultural importance in neighborhoods across our commonwealth, and right now they need us. We know that by coming together, we can create real and lasting impact in our community.”

The grant will kickstart with $75,000, and Ocean Spray will match up to an additional $25,000 of donations as part of the cooperative’s mission to connect its farms to families for a better life. As part of the partnership, a press release explained, Ocean Spray will also offer discounts on key products such as Craisin^® dried cranberries and Cranberry Juice Cocktail.

Currently, the Ocean Spray Farmers for Chefs Alliance is open to public donations and 100 percent of proceeds will go directly to restaurant operators in need.

“We are thrilled to partner with our friends at Ocean Spray on this important initiative to provide relief to independent restaurants that are in serious distress due to the global pandemic,” explained Chef Jody Adams, Founding Member of Massachusetts Restaurants United and Chef/Owner of Porto, Saloniki, and Trade in Greater Boston. “Over the last six months, restaurants across Massachusetts have been forced to reinvent themselves many times just to keep the doors open. Ocean Spray’s generous commitment to establishing long-term assistance funds will alleviate some of the overwhelming stress that so many local restaurants are currently faced with and will help strengthen restaurants in need now and beyond COVID-19. Massachusetts restaurants won’t survive unless they have relief, and we are grateful to Ocean Spray for being a champion of our industry.”

Throughout its history, Ocean Spray and its farmers have always understood the importance of relationships with the chefs who operate small restaurants.

We here at AndNowUKnow love seeing business operators helping others, and so we thank Ocean Spray for its commitment to the industry.

Ocean Spray