OXNARD, Calif., May 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC), the largest fresh multi-berry producer, is committed to supporting the communities where they operate. The need for help is greater than ever with the unforeseen impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, and one of the ways that RAC is responding is through supporting local school districts to ensure families have access to food.
With schools closed, the incidence of food insecurity among children in the U.S. has dramatically risen and children are losing the meals they depend on. School districts are stepping up to offer free meal distribution programs; however, many schools have a great need in accessing fresh produce to support kids and families.
In response, RAC is donating fresh strawberries to two local school districts in California: Oxnard Union High School District and Ocean View School District. In Ocean View School District in particular, 83% of students are on the free meal program, which means these families are in need of support during this unprecedented time. RAC's berries are included as part of the meal bags assembled at school and delivered to the families for the month of May.
"We're so thankful to help provide food for hungry kids who might not otherwise get the nutrition they need," said Eduardo Lucero, RAC's Production Director for Ventura County. "These districts serve the children of many of our farmworkers, so we're doing everything we can to support their efforts and help families put nutritious, balanced meals on the table."
As a family-owned farming company, RAC is proud to do their part in ensuring children stay healthy and happy while classrooms are closed.
To learn more about Reiter Affiliated Companies, please visit: http://www.berry.net
About Reiter Affiliated Companies
Reiter Affiliated Companies (RAC) is the largest fresh multi-berry producer in the world, growing Driscoll's proprietary varieties of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries year round in the United States, Baja California, Central Mexico, Portugal, Morocco, Canada and Peru.
The Reiter family began farming in the San Francisco Bay Peninsula and by the turn of the century had migrated south into Watsonville and the Santa Clara Valley. By the late 1970's, operations expanded into Southern California where the headquarters is today. The company values of Honesty, Fairness and Respect line the corridors of every office, guiding and leading business principles and decisions. Those decisions have resulted in the organization's position as an industry leader, adopting health and wellbeing programs, opening primary health clinics and partnering with local organizations to improve the quality of life for the farmworker community.
SOURCE Reiter Affiliated Companies
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