Wyoming
Food Bank Harvests Over 10,000lbs Potatoes for Wyoming Tables
Meals Financial institution of Wyoming and two College of Wyoming Extension packages labored collectively to get regionally grown potatoes onto the tables of Wyoming households.
Via efforts by the James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Analysis and Extension Middle (SAREC) and the Cent$ible Diet Program (CNP), over 10,000 kilos of potatoes had been harvested and bagged in September, proper exterior Lingle, and donated to Meals Financial institution of Wyoming.
Final yr, 7,000 kilos of potatoes had been collected and despatched to tables round Wyoming to assist feed households experiencing starvation. The purpose this yr was to reap 10,000 kilos of potatoes. The purpose was exceeded, and the Meals Financial institution acquired 10,920 kilos of potatoes to profit Wyoming neighbors in want.
“We’re so grateful for all of the volunteers who got here out to assist bag potatoes and are thrilled to have surpassed our purpose,” mentioned Kali McCrackin Goodenough, CNP supervisor.
Why potatoes? Meals Financial institution of Wyoming mentioned that potatoes are an excellent produce for a mission like this as a result of their shelf life is longer than many different recent produce objects. And recent, native produce is all the time favorable when feeding communities as they supply larger dietary worth than processed meals.
To not point out, the standard potato has been fixing starvation issues for hundreds of years. Take a look at the Smithsonian’s “How the Potato Modified the World.”
“The potato harvest is a pure partnership between CNP and UW Extension agricultural experiment stations like SAREC. That is an unbelievable alternative to attach regionally grown meals from SAREC to the households we serve in Wyoming,” mentioned Mindy Meuli, CNP director.
The potatoes are at present in Meals Financial institution of Wyoming vehicles, certain for distribution to companions and plates throughout Wyoming to feed and nourish native communities. The distribution of recent, native produce helps Meals Financial institution of Wyoming additional their mission to nourish individuals in Wyoming who face starvation. The native partnerships of the potato harvest make this a particular mission all of the whereas lowering the burden of starvation in Wyoming.
Meals Financial institution of Wyoming’s involvement within the potato harvest goes hand in hand with September’s Starvation Motion Month.
“We’re grateful to the College of Wyoming Extension packages, SAREC and Cent$ible Diet for the donation of regionally grown potatoes to profit our Wyoming neighbors in want. With larger inflation and gas costs, many households are searching for meals help for the primary time, so these potatoes will probably be a welcome addition to our distributions to Starvation Aid Companions this Fall.” Rachel Bailey, Government Director of Meals Financial institution of Wyoming.