Farmers Union helps feed National Guard troops in D.C.
March 15, 2021
National Guard troops on duty in the nation’s capital will soon be getting a different taste in the chow line.
Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) is donating $50,000 to provide roughly 5,000 soldiers with nutritious meals from Founding Farmers restaurants, based in the Washington, D.C., area and owned by Farmers Union.
FUE is made up of several Farmers Union-owned businesses in the Upper Midwest – the dividends of which help fund Farmers Union state organizations in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, as well as FUE programs and National Farmers Union. This effort comes on the heels of FUE’s donation of pork ribs to food banks in these five states, including Second Harvest Heartland in the Twin Cities last week.
“Security for our nation is not just about the military, it is also about having food security,” said Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish. “The National Guard in D.C. has been working hard to protect our democracy amid political tension, and this is our way of giving back – providing delicious farm-fresh meals so they do not have to worry about food security.”
Dan Simons, manager of Founding Farmers and Farmers Restaurant Group, said lunch and dinner meals will be delivered to the National Guard this week for distribution through their food service network.
“Heart. Generosity. Farming. Security. Service. The ingredients in this recipe are amazing on their own and even more remarkable together,” he said. “My team and I are honored to be able to provide delish meals to those who serve and protect each and every day and have sincere gratitude to our farmer-owners for their generosity with funding this mission.”
The lunches will be delivered to the D.C. Armory tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Photos from the event will be available following.
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Minnesota Farmers Union—Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers (www.mfu.org)