With the purpose of reducing the growing number of children suffering from a lack of access to adequate food in the state of California, our subsidiary Riviana has joined forces with the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) for the development of the social initiative ‘Jars of Hope’.

Accordingly, Riviana has committed to donate $1 to CAFB for every jar of RiceSelect® sold at Ralphs Grocery, Food 4 Less, Foods Co and Walmart stores located in the state of California from mid-October to mid-November of this year. The money raised will be used to support CAFB’s Farm to Family , a program designed to recover high-quality California produce, which would otherwise go ungrown or lost, and then donated to the state’s food banks who distribute it to underprivileged families.  Last year, CAFB’s ‘Farm to Family’ program delivered more than 250 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to food banks across the state, providing nutritious, quality food to communities and reducing food waste. Established in 2005, the program secures and delivers stable food such as beans, soups, cereals, and grains, as well as protein such as eggs and meat to families.

The donation of funds raised through the Jars of Hope initiative will be made in early 2025 and will also include donations (in-kind) of RiceSelect®, and other Riviana products.

Stacia Levenfeld, CEO of CAFB, stated; “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. We are grateful to Riviana and applaud the organization for their commitment to California families”.

Erica Larson, Director of Marketing at Riviana Foods, added; “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 cares about California families and 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. We are excited to bring this partnership to life and look forward to having a positive impact in California communities through the Jars of Hope program.”