• by Danielle Oster , October 16, 2024

California is the top state in the country for agricultural production, according to the USDA. Yet an estimated 27% of California households with children face food insecurity, according to the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB), and about one in five Californians as a whole (an estimated 8.8 million people) struggle with food insecurity.

RiceSelect producers Riviana Foods (which also sells other grain products such as quinoa, couscous, and pasta) is teaming up with CAFB in an effort to reduce those numbers. The “Jars Of Hope” initiative kicks off with a donation drive in support of CAFB’s “Farm to Family” program, which recovers produce in California that otherwise would be wasted and donates it to food banks throughout the state which distribute it to food insecure families. The program delivered over 250 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to California food banks, according to CAFB.

“As the leading rice manufacturer in the U.S., we understand the critical role our products play in fighting hunger and supporting families and communities in California,” Riviana Foods director of marketing Erica Larson said in a statement. “The California Association of Food Banks’ ‘Farm to Family’ mission aligns perfectly with our commitment to responsible agriculture that nurtures the population for generations to come.”

Riviana is committing to donate $1 to CAFB’s “Farm To Family Program” for every jar sold of its RiceSelect product at  Ralphs Grocery, Food 4 Less, Foods Co and Walmart stores in California between Oct. 14 and Nov. 10, 2024 – up to $75,000 (with the company committing to a minimum donation of $25,000).

The fundraising portion of the “Jars Of Hope” initiative will be followed by a donation component scheduled for early 2025, expected to include donations of RiceSelect and other Riviana-made products to CAFB for distribution to food pantries throughout the state.

“We are in the midst of a hunger crisis. Right now, we are seeing food insecurity rates at levels similar to those in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic,” CAFB CEO Stacia Levenfeld said in a statement. “Teaming up with Riviana Foods for the ‘Jars of Hope’ program will not only support our work of fighting hunger in California, but serves as a powerful example of the role food producers and distributors can play in feeding communities.”