MONTEREY, CA - While the Organic Produce Summit may have ended, the impacts of the incredible event are still being felt. Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit with a focus on delivering fresh fruits and vegetables directly to families, hosted a volunteer event during the show, providing 1,000 families in Monterey County with fresh produce.

“The support of the produce industry is instrumental in the success of our program,” said Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites. “We are thankful for the volunteers that helped make this distribution possible and also the produce donors who provided organic fruits and vegetables to fill the boxes for each of the 1,000 families served in Monterey County.”

Volunteers came together to sort and pack the fresh produce donation, delivering it to 1,000 families across four sites, including Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Frank Ledesma, and First Tee.

As a press release shared, the families participating in the program received approximately 50 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables along with recipes and tips to encourage healthier eating habits and food choices.

"The inaugural Seed to Service volunteer event with Brighter Bites was a tremendous success, and we are thrilled with how it went!” said Keigan Roos, Event Manager for Organic Produce Summit. “We look forward to continuing this event at OPS in the future and giving back to our community by providing fresh fruits and vegetables. Together, we can make a lasting impact and support the health and well-being of our community."

The donation was made possible with the help of several industry powerhouses, including Taylor Farms, Sunkist Growers, Driscoll’s, Trinity Fruit Company, Braga Fresh, and Monterey Mushrooms.

Cheers to Brighter Bites, the Organic Produce Summit, and the participating suppliers for making a huge impact on 1,000 families!

ANUK will continue to cover the latest initiatives and industry updates, so stick around.