KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA - Combining the power of produce with the power of music? Once again, Mastronardi Produce® is innovating within the greenhouse sector to make every moment it interacts with the industry memorable. The virtual SUNSET® Rocks event, which brought together major recording artists across rock, pop, and country, connected the industry in the effort to raise funds for Brighter Bites®.

“By turning SUNSET Rocks into a virtual event, we were able to create an immersive and dynamic digital experience for the industry,” shared Mark Figueiredo, Creative Director of Mastronardi Produce. “We could bring in more acts, more attendees, and ultimately raise more money for Brighter Bites, while also sharing important messages from our partners and sponsors. Overall, it rocked on so many levels.”

The event was a massive success, according to a press release, and surpassed the fundraising goal thanks to multiple donations made by generous sponsors and viewers. In total, over $200,000 was collected for Brighter Bites. This will allow the nonprofit organization to distribute almost 1 million pounds of produce! We can also think of this as 2.4 million servings of fresh produce to families who need it most. With this money, Brighter Bites can expand its program and reach new communities and schools.

To date, this event was the most successful single-day fundraiser since its founding in 2012.

"Having attended past year's SUNSET Rocks events, my expectations for this year were set pretty high. Yet somehow Dean Taylor, Paul Mastronardi, and the SUNSET Team still managed to blow my mind in every way imaginable,” said Brighter Bites CEO Rich Dachman. “I am still in awe at the fact one of my all-time favorite artists helped raise more than $200,000 for Brighter Bites and the families we serve. This was a night I will never forget, and I can’t thank SUNSET and our sponsors enough."

Mastronardi Produce extends a thanks to PMA, premier sponsor Enza Zaden, matching and event sponsors SUNSET, EarthFresh, Sunkist, Chelan Fresh, H-E-B, Grimmway Farms, Good Foods, and Calavo, and all attendees who came together to support this cause.

From all of us here at AndNowUKnow: Keep rocking, produce industry!

Mastronardi Produce®