Source: Minnesota Pork Board
Today, the Minnesota Pork Board donated 6,000 pounds of ground pork to Second Harvest Heartland, the Upper Midwest’s largest hunger relief organization. Minnesota pig farmers and the MPB are commitment to providing safe and nutritious pork for everyone. This is the seventh year the two Minnesota-based organizations have worked together to provide hunger relief.

“It’s all about feeding our hungry neighbors,” says David Laskey, director of food bank operations for Second Harvest Heartland. “Our mission statement is ‘Ending hunger through community partnerships.’ We can’t do it alone. The donation is very much appreciated.”

The pork donation stems from the MPB’s Oink Outing events that took place at farmers markets and community events around the Twin Cities throughout the summer. At the Oink Outing events, a pound of ground pork was donated for every question a consumer asked a Minnesota pig farmer about pigs, pig farming or pork.

“I certainly think it’s all about partnership,” says Dave Frederickson, Minnesota agriculture commissioner. “Outreach by commodity organizations like Minnesota Pork is really a fine example of coming together.”

The MPB invests in promotions that encourage pork consumption, research that answers challenges facing its producers and education to help pig farmers continuously improve and carry on providing nutritious pork products. For more information, visit MnPork.com.

Second Harvest Heartland is one of the nation’s largest, most efficient and most innovative food banks. In 2016, the organization served 532,000 people and supplied them with 80 million meals in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Second Harvest Heartland helps relieve hunger not only by sourcing, warehousing and distributing food, but through data-driven thought leadership and community partnerships that help improve the region’s larger hunger relief system. For more information, visit 2Harvest.org or call 651-484-5117.