MFU, with Farmers Union Enterprises, donates 30,000 pounds of pork ribs to Second Harvest Heartland
May 5, 2020
With food insecurity on the rise due to COVID-19-related unemployment, the Twin Cities-based Second Harvest Heartland food shelf is much busier than normal. With Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE), Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) is pitching in to help meet their needs.
On Wednesday, May 6 at 9 a.m., MFU will donate 30,000 pounds of Redwood Farms pork ribs to Second Harvest Heartland’s Brooklyn Park facility, observing social distancing practices.
Redwood Farms is a meat processing facility part of FUE’s family of businesses, Farmers Union Industries (FUI), based in Estherville, Iowa. Normally, it supplies premium pork products to high-end restaurants in major cities across the United States. As these restaurants have had to shut their doors because of the pandemic, Redwood Farms was faced a decrease in pork demand.
“Donating pork to Second Harvest Heartland is a win for all of us,” MFU President Gary Wertish said. “People in need of food assistance will be able to get healthy, delicious pork, and Redwoods Farms is able to continue processing meat from family farmers and keep people employed.
“Additionally, I’d like to thank Second Harvest for their long-standing commitment to feeding Minnesotans and supplying fresh food from Minnesota’s family farmers.”
The dividends from FUI businesses help fund Farmers Union organizations in North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota and Wisconsin, the states that make up FUE. Funds also go towards FUE programs and National Farmers Union. FUE is donating a total of 150,000 pounds of Redwood Farms pork ribs to food pantries in the five states.
“Farmers Union is all about working together to meet our common needs,” President Wertish said. “When it comes to dealing with a global pandemic, the late Sen. Paul Wellstone’s words ring even more true: ‘We all do better when we all do better.’
“Rural and urban folks alike are facing unique challenges. We’re proud to support an essential Minnesota public service with something we all need: food.”
Members of the press are invited to cover the donation on Wednesday and are asked to observe safety measures, such as wearing cloth masks and leaving at least six feet between each person. Second Harvest Heartland is located at 7101 Winnetka Ave North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428.
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Minnesota Farmers Union—Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers (www.mfu.org)