CONTACT: Kris Tazelaar, Communications Manager, Second Harvest Foodbank, 608-216-7206
Cyndi Hammond, Dairy Pricing Association, 715-284-2590
TAYLOR, Wis., January 23, 2012 – The Dairy Pricing Association, a local cooperative organization of milk producers, will donate 2,000 pounds of cheddar cheese to Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin in a ceremony to be held at Meister Dairy (1050 E. Industrial Drive, Muscoda, Wisconsin) on Thursday, January 26, from noon to 1 p.m. Second Harvest is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. This will mark the third donation of dairy products by the Association to a Feeding America member since August, 2011.
The Dairy Pricing Association is a collection of dairy producers whose mission is to establish a minimum price the dairy industry receives for its production, while at the same time maintaining a level of milk production to meet the needs of the consumer. The members of the Association pay a monthly assessment of 10 cents per hundred pounds of milk produced. This assessment is used to purchase surplus dairy commodities which are donated to Feeding America.
Robin Berg, Chairman of Dairy Pricing Association Inc. said, “This program is not being funded by any processor or marketer. We welcome all dairy producers, no matter what size, or what grade of milk you produce.”
The donation to Second Harvest will be fifty 40-pound blocks of cheddar cheese. Once received, volunteers will split the blocks of cheese into two-pound, family-size portions that will be distributed through a network of partner agencies to thousands of individuals, families, children and seniors who struggle with hunger.
“Dairy products are a critical component to achieving our goal of providing high-quality, nutritionally balanced food to those struggling with hunger. We are thankful to the Dairy Pricing Association for their continued commitment to ending hunger.” – Dan Stein, president and CEO, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin.
About Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in southwestern Wisconsin through community partnerships, serving nearly 141,000 people who struggle to put food on the table, including 43 percent who are children. Through food and financial donations and volunteer support, Second Harvest Foodbank acquires and distributes food to 315 partner agencies, including food pantries, shelters and meal sites, in 16 counties. From July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011, Second Harvest Foodbank distributed 8.6 million pounds of food. It is one of 200 members of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. For more information, visit http://www.SecondHarvestMadison.org.
