News

Minnesota pig farmers donate pork to Second Harvest Heartland

Minnesota pork producers are helping fight hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Patterson, who finishes about 3,000 hogs near Kenyon, says he and other pig farmers have been delivering hogs to the University of Minnesota Meat Lab for several weeks.

“Kind of what happened was when there was a backlog of hogs when the slaughter plants weren’t open, many people were asking (if some) of those hogs could be donated. And Minnesota Pork and Minnesota pork producers have stepped up to that challenge.”

Pork producers have partnered with Minnesota Pork, the University of Minnesota, and Second Harvest Heartland to deliver more than 12,000 pounds of ground pork to families in need.

“Food security is a huge issue, and Minnesota Pork and pork producers wanted to be a part of that solution. So being able to find this partnership is really uplifting.”

Second Harvest Heartland CEO Allison O’Toole says the partnership has allowed for the continual distribution of nutritious, fresh protein at a time when hunger is at an all-time high.