Dole Joins the Ride to End Childhood Hunger as Title Sponsor of Chefs Cycle 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dole Food Company is proud to announce its role as title sponsor of the 2026 Chefs Cycle event benefiting No Kid Hungry, the national campaign from Share Our Strength committed to ending childhood hunger in America.
June 1-3, 2026, in Bend, Oregon, Chefs Cycle brought together more than 120 chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality professionals, cyclists and hunger advocates for a two-day, 200-mile endurance ride designed to raise critical awareness and funds for children facing food insecurity.
Throughout the event, Dole’s beloved 7-foot Bobby Banana cheered on riders and volunteers at Dole’s branded recovery station designed to reinforce the importance of nutrition, hydration and wellness. Riders completing the daily cycling routes received Dole’s Banana Pineapple Coconut Smoothie, while hydration enhancers from Dole’s licensing partner Dyla were also provided on-site.
To further amplify fundraising efforts and encourage public participation, Dole donated $100 for every Instagram social media post captured during the event that tags both @DolePics and @ChefsCycle, totally a donation of $25,000.
“Childhood hunger is not simply a food issue. It’s a health, education and opportunity issue,” said William Goldfield, director of communications for Dole Food Company. “Our continued partnership with No Kid Hungry reflects Dole’s belief that nutritious food should be accessible to every child, every day. Chefs Cycle is such a moving example of what can happen when the culinary community, food businesses and change advocates come together around a mission that truly matters.”
While this marks Dole’s first year as title sponsor of Chefs Cycle, the company’s support of No Kid Hungry dates back to 2020, when Dole partnered with the organization’s campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic as school closures left millions more children across the U.S. vulnerable to hunger.
The ongoing collaboration reflects The Dole Way mission to support nutrition access, food equity and community wellness by directing produce donations, supporting nutrition education programs and actively assisting organizations working to combat childhood hunger and food insecurity.
“We’re proud to welcome Dole as a sponsor of this year’s Chef Cycle,” said Allison Shuffield, Head of Corporate Partnerships at No Kid Hungry. “This partnership builds on their previous investment and marks an exciting next step in our work together.
This year’s event surpassed its fundraising goal of $1 million.
For more information on Chefs Cycle 2026 or to support the ride, visit:
