MFU Donates 36k Pounds of Pork to Montana Food Banks

The Montana Food Bank Network recently received more than 36,000 pounds of pork, donated by Farmers Union Enterprises and Montana Farmers Union.

The valuable protein resource has already been distributed free of charge to MFBN partners of food banks, food pantries, shelters, schools, and senior centers across Montana.

“Montana Farmers Union is working with Montana Food Bank Network to help feed the families of Montana. Recently we donated a third truckload of pork that was processed in a Farmers Union-owned Redwood Farms pork processing plant. This is our way to help farmers to feed families,” MFU President Walter Schweitzer said.

Farmers Union Enterprises is made up of several businesses, the dividends of which help fund Farmers Union organizations in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin as well as Farmers Union Enterprise programs and National Farmers Union.

The donation is one aspect of MFU’s relationship with Montana Food Bank Network that also includes MFU covering the processing costs of any livestock processed at Montana Premium Processing Cooperative that is donated to Montana food banks and pantries.

“I am also excited to be helping Montana Foodbank Network to raise money to build a new storage and processing facility in Missoula to help with the procurement and distribution of food around the state. This new facility will have a special space dedicated to taking food directly from Montana growers to be repackaged for distribution. This will allow Montana farmers to provide food directly to the food bank network. If you are interested in supporting Montana Food Bank Network, please reach out to let them know,” Schweitzer said.

Montana Food Bank Network’s Vice President and COO Brent Weisgram said the donation couldn’t have come at a better time to help families struggling to keep up with inflation costs.

“It is because of donors like the Montana Farmers Union that I remain optimistic that we will get through these hard times and provide some relief to our neighbors and seniors experiencing food insecurity,” Weisgram said.