From left, Juan, Eduardo and Robert Espinoza pose for a picture during the United Health Centers toy giveaway on Dec. 21, 2024, in Selma. Photo by Gabriel Dillard

Fresno-based Espinoza Brothers Food Distribution, Inc., a second-generation family business, stepped up once again this past Christmas season to spread joy to local families in need.

For the second time, the Espinoza brothers — Juan, Eduardo, Robert and Ricardo — teamed up with United Health Centers for a toy giveaway. This year it was held at the United Health Centers clinic in Selma, where Espinoza Brothers Food Distribution gave away 1,000 toys to kids just a few days before Christmas.

It was their uncle Jose Espinoza who led the family into the food distribution business in the early ‘90s from their hometown of Parlier, which was also the site of their first toy giveaway in 2023 in partnership with United Health Centers.

When their uncle died the business dissolved, and the brothers went their separate ways in the food distribution industry. But they came back together in 2019, and Espinoza Brothers Food Distribution was born. Their warehouse is located at Nielsen and Teilman avenues near Belmont Memorial Park.

They started off with 15 employees six years ago, and today have a team of 60. Espinoza Brothers services about 600 weekly accounts — restaurants, meat markets, retailers, etc. — from Bakersfield to Sacramento.

The Espinoza brothers know the types of families that come from the Valley’s rural communities — proud and hard working but often short on cash for the extras.

“When we were growing up, we were in the same boat, too” Juan Espinoza said. “Now that we are blessed, we want to give back to the community.”

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