Hunger-Free Minnesota Asks Growers and Public to Plan Now for Agricultural Surplus Donation
Hunger-Free Minnesota and its member partners are asking growers, community organizations and individuals to plan now for agricultural surplus donations to food banks and food shelves. The coalition is publicizing specific actions for growers, community groups and individuals to increase the amount of fresh produce available to those least able to afford it.
Agricultural Surplus – How to Get Involved
Consider participating in the national ‘grow a row’ concept.
Volunteer or organize volunteers for gardening, harvesting and coordinating food pick-up or food deliveries of fresh produce.
Subscribing to community-supported agriculture (CSA). Consider donating a portion of the produce to a food shelf. Establish the partnership in advance so you’re ready when the food is fresh.
Advocate by encouraging local farmers’ markets or other places you buy produce to donate surplus to those in need. Help identify nearby food shelves/pantries.
Offer to help with deliveries of surplus produce.
For more ideas, click here.
Farming programs help immigrants get out of poverty
By Cynthia Boyd MinnPost
Friday, May 11, 2012
He was born in mountainous Cambodia and dreamed of owning a farm. She was born to the far-reaching plains of the Midwest and flourished in an urban setting of coffee shops and poetry readings.
Now, immigrant Proeun and Amy Doeun are married, have four children, a herd of goats and 85 chickens as well as their own 40-acre farm in Rush City. That’s thanks in large part to the Minnesota Food Association, a farm entrepreneurship program she calls “our alma mater.’’
That program is but one of many to be highlighted at an upcoming national conference with a title as long and as self-explanatory as many a non-fiction book.
“Grassroots & Groundwork: Working Together to Reduce Poverty and Build Prosperity” will showcase both tested and emerging models for helping low-income as well as immigrant and refugee populations to get out and stay out of poverty, planners say. More than 400 people are expected to attend the event sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation June 6- 8 at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake.
We believe all communities can prosper,’’ says Kevin Walker, president and CEO of the foundation.
Presenters from around the country, including Oregon, Seattle, Philadelphia and the Twin Cities, will talk about programs working to stamp out hunger and poverty. Another local effort is Minnesota FastTRAC, a program to prepare “skills-challenged” adults for living wage jobs.
‘Small business incubator’
... Continue Reading
Helping Provide an Apple a Day
Vince McCoy, Food Resource Coordinator
Channel One
Channel One Food Bank and Food Shelf in Rochester know the power of fresh produce. Their Glean Team members collect leftover crops from farmers’ fields after they have been harvested for commercial use. Last year, the Glean Team brought in over 100,000 pounds of produce that the food bank and food shelf were then able to distribute...Read More
If you or someone you know can’t afford enough food, click on the plate to go to the Minnesota Food HelpLine or call 1-888-711-1151.
It's the Hunger-Free Minnesota Action Plan in action! The SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Awareness Campaign has launched. You can see it here.
Hunger-Free Minnesota on the news!
Chief Campaign Officer Ellie Lucas will be on Fox 9 (Twin Cities) Sunday Morning News on May 20 at 9:15 at Cargill employee gardens. She’ll be talking with Cargill’s Denise Essel about the company’s summer gardens and 100% produce-donation program.
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