MONTEREY, CA - We welcome every opportunity to champion the advocates of our industry. Their presence and contributions raise the bar for us all, and infuse our best and brightest with purpose and passion. On Friday, May 10, in Monterey County, California, 220 community leaders, partners, health organizations, ag companies, and supporters came together to celebrate Brighter Bites' impact on the community and raise funds for the prestigious program. During this event, the 2024 Philanthropy Award was awarded to Tonya Antle, honoring the impact of the Rick and Tonya Antle Fund to create communities of health.

“Thank you so very much for this recognition for the Rick and Tonya Antle Fund. When Rick and I created our fund in 2015, we had a vision to help the next generation of ag families. We both wanted to acknowledge our roots and show gratitude for the industry that was so good to both of us and our families,” Tonya shared with the day’s guests, thanking her fellow advocates and the Brighter Bites team as well. “I am looking across this gathering, seeing many of my produce and heroes and heroines. I love how our community rallies together whenever there is a need, to fill that gap. The ‘give where you live’ philosophy is thriving!”

As the Brighter Bites team expressed, Tonya has been a driving force in the farming and produce industry for the past 30-plus years. During this time, Tonya has been recognized as a top spokesperson and a true trailblazer for the organic produce segment, and she continues to serve the fresh produce community through her philanthropy.

In addition to honoring Tonya at the spring event, this year’s President’s Award honored Steve Church and Church Brothers Farms for their ongoing produce donations, outstanding philanthropy, and long-term partnership.

“We were honored to award Tonya Antle with the 2024 Philanthropy Award and Steve Church with Church Brothers with the President's Award. Tonya has played a large role in building our community and support in Monterey Country. We are so grateful for the advocacy of Steve and the produce industry in supporting our work of creating healthy communities in Monterey County and beyond,” Rich Dachman, Chief Executive Officer of Brighter Bites, told me.

The Church family has been an integral part of Salinas Valley agriculture for almost 100 years, Rich added, with brothers Tom and Steve working in the lettuce fields as teenagers and founding Church Brothers Farms together in 1999.

“The next generation and extended family members are now working throughout the company, which today is one of the largest vertically integrated grower/processors of fresh vegetables in the Salinas Valley and beyond,” Rich stated.

Along with Tonya and Church Brothers being honored, the crowd was graced by the incredible generosity of the attendees including a matching donation of $25,000 from Steve Barnard at Mission Produce. In addition to this wonderful gift, guests were also able to witness the children's choir "Mighty Veggie Melodies" sing about produce.

Please join me in celebrating Tonya, the Church Brothers family, and all those whose passion and commitment continue to elevate fresh produce today, and what it means to the future of our communities.