Milk Donations Across the Country
During the initial shock of the pandemic, we heard about disruptions across the food supply chain including that some dairy farmers were dumping milk because there was no where for the milk to go. I shared a blog post about the complexities surrounding the dumping of milk and the struggles our food supply system is facing during the pandemic.
Many people asked me why the milk wasn't being donated. At the time, I explained that there were logistical issues, finical constraints and limits on what we could do with raw milk. We needed some time to figure things out. But dairy farmers were determined to not have their milk go to waste.
Well today, I am so excited (and amazed) to share just a hand full of the incredible stories of dairy farmers donating MILK to those in need across the country. Farmers, coops, companies, small businesses and communities are teaming up to get dairy products to the people who need them the most.
Farmers in Pennsylvania donated 7,400 gallons of milk to their community through drive-thru lines.
Read the story here.
Land O’Lakes is providing free wi-fi to rural communities at more than 100 facilities in 11 states. The co-op also donated 160,000 lbs of dairy and 30,000 lbs of mac and cheese to food banks.
Read the story here.
Dairy Carrie collaborated with local businesses to donate more than 4,000 lbs of cheese curds to food banks.
Read the story here.
Farmers in Nevada donated 1,400 gallons of milk to people in their community.
Read the story here.
Farmers Feeding Families will donate 8,600 gallons of milk in Massachusetts.
Read the story here.
Plainview Milk Products Cooperative and the American Dairy Association donated more than 250,000 half pint cartons of milk to food banks that would normally go to schools.
Read the story here.
During the High Plains Agricultural Pop-up Pantry, farmers donated more than 4,000 gallons of milk and 2,000 blocks of cheese.
Learn more at High Plains Food Bank.
Midwest Dairy has approved funding for 50 grants to provide commercial-grade refrigeration units to local food banks in need.
Read the story here.
Dairy West a long with dairy farmers in Utah and Idaho will convert nearly 200,000 gallons of milk each week into dairy products to be distributed to those in need through Curds + Kindess.
Read the story here.
These are just a few of the stories I was able to pull together from emails, posts from farmers, and help from all of you! There are countless stories just like this of farmers stepping up in this time of need. And it makes me so proud to be a part of a community of people who care so deeply about making sure people are fed.
Udderly thankful,
New Mexico Milkmaid
