Tribe Provides Food Distribution

By Richard D. Ackley, Jr.

Jim Polar, Commodities Food Distribution Program Director, has been very busy during the Safer at Home initiative and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the past month my department has distributed more than 13,000 pounds of farm-fresh vegetables to the residents of Mole Lake, the Potawatomi of Stone Lake, Post Lake, Pickerel, Nashville Township, Crandon and Argonne,” Jim said.

Jim shared that the food distributed has been provided in conjunction with the Hunger Relief Federation of Wisconsin. “We have distributed 2,500 gallons of milk and 2,500 cases of cheese.”

Jim is very excited about the new addition to the program, which includes a frozen meat box with chicken legs, pre-cooked chicken pieces, and a large rotisserie chicken. “More than 160 new boxes are on the way later this week,” he said.

The Wisconsin Dairy Recovery Program, a partnership between the Hunger Task Force, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, has been distributing fresh, whole milk to local food pantries.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported, “The Hunger Task Force committed up to $1 million to support the purchase, processing and distribution of milk from Wisconsin dairy farmers for hungry families throughout the state. With processing support from Kemps in Cedarburg, and transportation support from Engelhardt Dairy in Kewaskum, milk deliveries began on April 27th to members of the Hunger Relief Federation across Wisconsin.

The Hunger Task Force is also working with several Wisconsin cheese producers to offer variety and versatility to hungry families. Chalet Cheese Cooperative is one such organization that plans to produce its award-winning Baby Swiss cheese for distribution. Chalet Cheese is a small cheese factory owned by 13 family farms in Green County, whose farmers and cheesemakers are heavily involved in the organization’s decisions and operations.”

For more information on the Commodities Food Distribution Program, contact Jim Polar at (715) 478-7546 or (715) 622-0200.