(NewsDakota.com/NDAgConnection.com) – A large donation of nutritious protein arrived in Madison from family farms today as 35,000 pounds of pork were shipped to Second Harvest Foodbank. The donation by the Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU), in partnership with Farmers Union Enterprises, is part of a five-state initiative to donate 180,000 pounds of pork that also includes food banks in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
“We are grateful for the generous donation of the Wisconsin Farmers Union,” said Michelle Orge, President and CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. “Our vision is for everyone in our community to have access to enough nutritious food to thrive, and this donation fits perfectly with that vision. It is a nutritious and versatile product for many different types of dietary and cultural preferences.”
“This can be an economically difficult time of year for many families, and we’re excited to provide some nutrition to families facing food insecurity,” said WFU President Darin Von Ruden, a dairy farmer from Westby, Wisconsin Say. “Our farmer members work hard every day to produce the food we want to ensure reaches those who need it most.”
FUE includes several businesses – whose dividends help fund farmers union organizations in the five-state area. The donated pork came from Redwood Farms in Esteville, Iowa, which supplies premium pork products to high-end restaurants in New York, Chicago and other cities across the United States. Pigs that may not meet the more stringent specifications of larger processing plants.
Since 1986, Second Harvest has been supporting neighbors in southwestern Wisconsin who are struggling with food insecurity. With a mission to end hunger in Southwest Wisconsin, the food bank provides people in their communities facing hunger with enough nutritious food to thrive.
Headquartered in Chippewa Falls, WFU is a statewide, member-driven organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of family farmers, rural communities and all people through educational opportunities, collaborative efforts and civic engagement.
“The Farmers Union is about working together to meet our common needs,” von Ruden said. “We are delighted to be partnering with Second Harvest on this work.”
