New York State Farmers donate 70,000+ pounds of milk, beef and produce to NYC families in need

With the coronavirus pandemic hitting the poorest communities the hardest, New York State farmers are stepping in to help out. Instead of dumping the produce, milk, and other products that they are unable to sell, they are donating them to those in need.

New York Farmers Donate Product to Feed Families

After having to painfully watch their hard work be dumped and destroyed, The Northeast Dairy Producers Association announced that farms and co-ops across the state have decided to take a different stance. Instead of dumping, they decided to start donating. As of May 14th, upstate farms had donated 70,000 pounds of milk, beef, fruit and vegetables to those in need.

“We cannot have hungry families in New York City, and farmers upstate dumping their product because they cannot sell it. Together with our farmer partners, we created our own network, and we will convert our district office into a food distribution hub to provide our neighbors with fresh produce and meals,” said Senator Jessica Ramos.

Not Just Food

Food hasn’t been the only thing donated. Packages of crayons and coloring books have also been donated and have been available for families at the Senator’s office in East Queens since May 1st.

So far, these are the donations that have been made:

1. 300 pounds of beef donated by La Casa De Leche Farm (Livingston County) and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association.
2. 1,700 gallons of milk donated by Dairy Farmers of America.
3. 20,000 apples equaling 5,700 pounds donated by Farm Fresh First, Inc., which markets NY apples from over 100 apple growers throughout the state.
4. 14,000 pounds of onions, 8,000 pounds of potatoes and 4,000 pounds of cabbage donated by Torrey Farms, Inc. (Genesee County) and the New York State Vegetable Growers Association.
5. 2,880 pounds of blueberry and vanilla parfait yogurt donated by Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., a dairy cooperative located in Western NY.
6. 575 packs of Prang Crayons made with soybean oil donated by the New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association, along with coloring books sponsored by New York dairy farmers and donated through American Dairy Association North East.

This is yet another testament to the human spirit. Despite the financial losses these farms have suffered from COVID-19, they are still willing to help other people who are also hurting. When we come together and support one another, the world is a better place.

Keep Reading: Dairy Farmers are Dumping Their Milk Down the Drain. ‘Nowhere for it to Go’