Unique partnership benefits Maine farmers, food-insecure Mainers
The partners, including cheesemaker Pineland Farms Dairy and dairy cooperative DFA, will distribute thousands of pounds of cheese to food pantries, shelters and more.
In a unique arrangement, four diverse Maine organizations are teaming up to address hunger relief and support Maine dairy farmers. Good Shepherd Food Bank, Pineland Farms Dairy Company Inc., Libra Foundation and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) will distribute thousands of pounds of cheese to food-insecure Mainers through Maine’s emergency food distribution network, Bangor, Maine-based Pineland Farms Dairy said.
Starting immediately with a commitment of more than 26,000 pounds of cheese donated by Pineland Farms Dairy — made from local DFA members’ milk — Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine’s largest hunger-relief organization, will begin distributing cheese weekly to its network of more than 500 partner agencies, which include food pantries, meal sites, shelters and schools. Contributions could total 200,000 pounds of Maine cheddar and jack cheese over the course of several months, Pineland Farms Dairy said.