FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Lisa Hill
503.730-8055, lisa@lisahillpr.com
Umatilla and Morrow county farmers double donations of potatoes and onions and wheat for shelf-stable baking mix
PORTLAND, Ore. (March 20, 2020) – Eastern Oregon wheat, onion and potato farmers are doubling their efforts and donating even more fresh food during the current Coranavirus epidemic sweeping our state. “Last year we received over three million pounds of food from Umatilla and Morrow county farmers and today they announced they are committed to doubling that amount of food during this time of economic uncertainty,” says Fred Ziari, founder of Farmers Ending Hunger. Individuals can support the mission and donate funds to the Adopt an Acre program.
Farmers Ending Hunger offers a creative solution to eradicating hunger in Oregon by working directly with farmers who are growing and harvesting food as an intentional donation, and utilizing the Oregon Food Bank’s distribution network. The donated wheat is turned into pancake mix with the help of partners at Pendleton’s Grain Craft and Continental Mills in Washington State, and local ranchers are donating more cattle to be processed into hamburger meat for emergency food boxes.
“Oregon is one of the most productive growing regions in the country and also one of the hungriest,” says Ziari. “In an average month, 84,000 children in Oregon eat meals from emergency food boxes and with this health crisis, this number will grow daily. Our farmers recognize the immediate need and can pivot to make this additional donation happen.”
“Farmers have a tremendous opportunity to donate even more food during this crisis and do what they can do feed more of our community members experiencing food insecurity,” said Kenzie Hansell, FEH board member and farmer in Athena and Hermiston.
Partnering with Farmers Ending Hunger, the Pendleton Round-Up continues to work closely with local farmers to donate food to the local community. Farmers Ending Hunger Day at the 2020 Pendleton Round-Up will feature interactive exhibits and opportunities for visitors to help contribute to fighting hunger through donations and action. Tickets for the Wednesday, September 16 rodeo performance start at $15 and are available at http://www.pendletonroundup.com/ or call (541) 276- 2553.
About Farmers Ending Hunger
Eastern Oregon resident Fred Ziari created the nonprofit Farmers Ending Hunger in 2004 when he learned that Oregon was one of the hungriest states in the country. Farmers Ending Hunger gathers Oregon’s agricultural resources to help feed the hungry. For information on how to contribute to Adopt-an-Acre, please visit www.farmersendinghunger.com or call Executive Director John Burt at 503-931-9232. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at Farmers Ending Hunger for news and events.