LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Los Angeles Unified School District has selected Don Lee Farms as its premier strategic supplier of vegan protein for the next 5 years. Don Lee Farms is a multi-generational family producer of plant-based protein and meat for some of the world’s most recognized and successful brands, including Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Albertsons Companies. The city selected Don Lee Farms based on its ability to drive plant innovation, its market leadership as a go-to vegan food manufacturer, and its ability to provide safe, nutritious foods to large scale.
“We are very honored to have been selected by the Los Angeles Unified School District as a strategic supplier of vegan protein. Our family food business has been a trusted local supplier of protein to the District since 1982,” said Donald Goodman, President of Don Lee Farms. “We have decades of experience making plant-based proteins and using extruded proteins to create delicious foods backed by our multi-generational manufacturing know-how and passion for culinary innovation. The Los Angeles Unified School District has served our blended proteins, beef combined with plant-based extruded proteins designed to mimic the taste, texture, appearance and nutritional profile of beef, since the beginning of our relationship. 40 years ago.
Don Lee Farms manufactures, co-manufactures and assembles vegan and plant-based foods under the Don Lee Farms brand and their partners’ brands.
Don Lee Farms is one of the largest suppliers of meat and plant-based protein for the school meals program. In 2019, they launched America’s first plant-based nugget designed just for kids: Better Than Chicken™ Nugget. They are the first chicken-free nugget to exceed the nutritional requirements of the school meals program.
About Donald Goodman:
Donald Goodman is the founder and president of Don Lee Farms. In 2022, Mr. Goodman was named “Philanthropist of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank introduced Donald Goodman as “a visionary philanthropist who has been involved with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for nearly 40 years.” They continued, “His company, Don Lee Farms, has been a food donor for nearly 40 years, donating millions of pounds of protein foods and dairy products valued in the tens of millions of dollars.”
US Congresswoman Maxine Waters presented Don Lee Farms and Donald Goodman with a Special Congressional Recognition Certificate for supporting scholarships for outstanding high school students in the city of Inglewood. Mr. Goodman was nominated for the Los Angeles Times CEO Leadership Award, an award recognizing exceptional people who impact change.
About Don Lee Farms:
Established in California in 1982, Don Lee Farms is a family-owned producer of fresh and frozen foods for some of the most recognized and successful brands in the world. Don Lee Farms manufactures plant and meat proteins for more than 10,000 markets, clubs, foodservice and school catering establishments. Consumer products and finished goods are sold at major retailers nationwide such as Costco Wholesale, Whole Foods Markets, Trader Joes, Kroger, Publix, HEB and Albertsons Companies under the Don Lee Farms label, private labels and brand names. of their partners. For more information, visit www.DonLeeFarms.com or follow Don Lee Farms on Facebook and Twitter, @DonLeeFarms.