In celebration of October Pork Month, the Minnesota Pork Board (MPB) donated 5,000 lb. of ground pork to the Second Harvest Heartland in St. Paul, MN, this week.  Second Harvest Heartland is the Upper Midwest’s largest hunger relief organization.

The pork donation actually was made possible through consumer participation at 23 MPB “Oink Outings” that took place at events around the Twin Cities throughout the summer. At the Oink Outing events, consumers who asked Minnesota pork producers any pig- or pork-related question activated a 1-lb. ground pork donation to the Second Harvest Heartland.

“This effort is an opportunity to create connections between consumers and pork producers, and we are proud to help support Second Harvest Heartland,” says Dave Preisler, MPB Executive Director. “It’s great to get into the community and talk with consumers directly about what Minnesota pork producers are doing and how they care for their animals.”

Preisler attributes MPB exceeding its original goal of a 4,000-lb. donation to consumer interest in learning more about how Minnesota pork producers raise hogs, the producers’ desire to hear from consumers directly, and Second Harvest Heartland’s reputation in the community. The donation will provide 20,000 servings of pork to area families in need.

“Second Harvest Heartland extends our sincerest gratitude to the Minnesota Pork Board for their generous donation,” says Rob Zeaske, Second Harvest Heartland CEO. “Protein donations like pork are tremendously valuable, as they are some of the most costly to buy for our neighbors in need. In Minnesota, ending hunger need not be a coin-in-a-fountain wish. I am hopeful because, although the root causes of poverty are complex, feeding a neighbor isn’t. We can do this.”

Bill Crawford, Minnesota Pork Board President; Jim Boerboom, Minnesota Department of Agriculture deputy commissioner; Lori Stevermer, a Minnesota pork producer; and Kevin Hugoson, Minnesota Pork Producers Association president, presented the pork donation to Second Harvest Heartland CEO Rob Zeaske this week.

Source: Minnesota Pork Board.