The Farmer John brand has been rooted in California since 1931 and has had the privilege of feeding and supporting its communities for more than nine decades. Farmer John's heart will always be in California and that's why the brand is dedicated to finding even more ways to invest in the Golden State's communities and support brand fans for years to come. As part of this promise, the brand is embarking on year three of its California Commitment Tour to feed, celebrate, and serve residents across the state. Over the course of eight weeks this summer, Farmer John is making 3-4 stops per week with its food truck to deliver free grab-and-go lunches to Californians and essential businesses and donating much-needed protein to local food banks.

The brand recently made a pit stop at Alameda County Community Food Bank in Northern California to recognize the organization's positive impact and commitment to serving the local community by donating 150,000 servings of protein to aid in local hunger relief. Farmer John also showed its gratitude to the organization and its unwavering efforts by partnering with Brenda Buenviajé, renowned local chef and owner of Brenda's Oakland, who delivered her Thick Cut Bacon, Ham and Pimento Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches featuring Farmer John Thick Cut Bacon, and Farmer John Classic Hickory Smoked Ham Steak to the hardworking food bank employees and volunteers.

"Generous contributions like the donation we received from Farmer John are incredibly important for organizations like ours," said, Michael Altfest, director of community engagement at Alameda County Community Food Bank. "Protein items are among the most requested at our distributions, but are also among the most expensive for us to procure. This donation is greatly appreciated and goes a long way in helping us meet the need in our community." 

"I've called California home for twenty-four years now and giving back to my community is very important to me, so I was honored when Farmer John approached me to partner to serve up meals to the deserving food bank workers and volunteers," said Brenda Buenviajé, chef and owner of Brenda's Oakland. "I'm a big believer of celebrating the people you care about with good food, and I hope my Thick Cut Bacon, Ham and Pimento Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches brought a little more joy to this community."

As an extension of this year's tour, Farmer John is also introducing the California Kindness Project—a program designed to support committed California non-profits who are making an impact in their local areas. Whether newly founded in the midst of the pandemic or around for generations, Farmer John is inviting charities and organizations in the Golden State to apply for one of the California Kindness grants, so that the brand can help support these nonprofits on their mission of improving the lives of their neighbors.

Through the California Kindness Project, Farmer John will provide $100,000 in financial support via grants, ranging from $3,000 to $25,000 each, to eligible California nonprofit organizations through an open application process ending September 5.* To submit an application or to learn more about eligibility, guidelines, and the selection process, organizations can visit CAKindnessProject.com.

"Our hearts will always be in California, and we look forward to continuing to show our appreciation, to say thank you, and to honor the Golden State's communities for years to come," said Lauren Connelly, brand manager for Farmer John at Smithfield Foods. "Initiatives like the California Commitment Tour and California Kindness Project are small tokens of our appreciation and give us the opportunity to celebrate and serve Californians—one meal at a time."

Farmer John fans are invited to recreate Brenda Buenviajé's recipes—Asian Cajun Po' Boy and Thick Cut Bacon, Ham and Pimento Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches—at home and share their masterpieces on social using the hashtags #CommittedToCalifornia, #SoFarmerJohn, and #SoCalifornia. Farmer John is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

Source: Farmer John