HOUSTON, TX - Families across the country will be receiving fresh fruits and vegetables via a new Brighter Bites partnership. The organization has expanded its reach through the Produce Rx program with the support of DoorDash and its Project DASH initiative.

“The opportunity to deliver produce directly to children who require dietary intervention is an exciting one,” said Mike Pomeroy, Vice President of Operations for Brighter Bites. “Some children are at risk with their long-term health if they don’t make dramatic improvements to their daily food intake. Our Produce Rx partnership with UT Physicians and DoorDash enables us to reach the children who need Brighter Bites the most."

In 2022, Brighter Bites partnered with UT Physicians, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health to conduct a randomized controlled study to assess the impact of two Produce Rx strategies among children who are overweight and obese, along with their families who are Medicaid-eligible at two UT Physicians’ clinics in Houston, Texas. DoorDash helped make this possible by transporting 16 bi-weekly deliveries of 15–20 pounds of produce to children and families who are prescribed Produce Rx.

Although Produce Rx is currently only available in Houston, DoorDash and Brighter Bites have recently made a commitment to support the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and its goal of ending hunger by 2030. Both organizations will expand their impact through delivery of prescription fresh produce to several additional cities across the United States by 2025.

“DoorDash is proud to expand our partnership with Brighter Bites in support of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Local delivery of charitable food can have a transformative impact by breaking down barriers to access and enabling partners like Brighter Bites to promote health and wellness through produce boxes,” said Daniel Riff, Head of DoorDash Drive Government and Nonprofit.

The study, conducted among 150 families, will be completed this spring.

To read more about the White House's commitment to help end hunger and create healthy communities, click here, and to review the entire list of commitments, click here.

Keep reading ANUK to learn about fresh-forward initiatives like this one.