Farm Credit Mid-America strongly supports Farms to Food Banks

Over four years, cooperative’s customers and employees
helped feed one million families

LOUISVILLE, KY – In this season of thanks and giving, Farm Credit Mid-America offers its gratitude and appreciation to the farmers and team members across its four-state territory who came together in 2019 to provide fruit and produce to families in underserved communities.

Farm Credit Mid-America employees volunteer at Lynd’s Fruit Farm in Pataskala, Ohio to collect 7,250 pounds of fresh fruit to donate to local food banks as part of the Farms to Food Banks program. Farms to Food Banks connects people who grow food with people who need it most. Since its start in 2015, an average of 300 volunteers each year have helped donate tens of thousands of pounds of locally grown fruit and vegetables to more than 30 food bank distribution centers across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

More than 280 volunteers from Farm Credit Mid-America helped glean more than 17,500 pounds of fruit and produce from four farms, or prepared boxes for distribution at more than a dozen distribution centers to support Farms to Food Banks programs. Over the last four years, Farm Credit Mid-America’s help has provided or supplemented meals for more than one million families, said Bill Johnson, President and CEO of Farm Credit Mid-America.

“Farms to Food Banks connects farmers in our territory and local communities in need,” said Johnson. “Working alongside our farmer friends and with distribution centers, we're helping make healthy food available to the public and strengthening the communities where we live and work.”

As part of the Farms to Food Banks program, Farm Credit Mid-America volunteers help collect 1,005 pounds of produce from Utterback Farms in Elwood, Ind. to donate to food banks. Farms to Food Banks connects people who grow food with people who need it most. Since its start in 2015, an average of 300 volunteers each year have helped donate tens of thousands of pounds of locally grown fruit and vegetables to more than 30 food bank distribution centers across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Farms to Food Banks directs surplus and donated agriculture products from farmers to food banks. The program partners with agencies to help get food on people’s tables using volunteers to harvest farmer-grown produce and food banks to process and distribute the produce to families in need.

In addition to providing volunteers, Farm Credit financially supports the initiative through its Corporate Citizenship program, and participating farmers say they are thankful because it gives them the chance to provide food to people who need it instead of turning it into compost.

Employees appreciate the opportunity as well.

As part of the Farms to Food Banks program, Farm Credit Mid-America volunteers visit Patterson Fruit Farm in Chesterland, Ohio to collect 8,000 pounds of produce for local food banks. Farms to Food Banks connects people who grow food with people who need it most. Since its start in 2015, an average of 300 volunteers each year have helped donate tens of thousands of pounds of locally grown fruit and vegetables to more than 30 food bank distribution centers across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

“We helped out in the community cupboard, which provides families in need the feel of a grocery store shopping experience,” said Brent Ditmars, Regional Vice President Agriculture Lending in Franklin, Ind. “The cupboard is open four days a week and serves thousands of people each month. The day really put things in perspective on how fortunate we all are.”

“Helping our neighbors is extremely important,” said Chuck Millhollan, Senior Vice President Operational Process Excellence, Business Technology. “Our neighbors may be miles away but we can always do things which support the cause of feeding our neighbors.”

“Our commitment to rural communities extends beyond providing financial services,” said Johnson. “Helping share the value and importance of agriculture to citizens who are three and four generations removed from the farm demonstrates our purpose to secure the future of rural communities and agriculture.

“It's a powerful and visible way to show that it's farmers who put food on tables across all our communities.”

About Farm Credit Mid-America
Farm Credit Mid-America is a financial services cooperative and has served the credit needs of farmers and rural residents across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee for more than 100 years. Backed by the strength of nearly 90,000 customers and $24 billion in assets, Farm Credit Mid-America provides loans for real estate, operating, equipment, housing and related services such as crop insurance, and vehicle, equipment and building leases. For more information, call 1-800-444-FARM or visit www.e-farmcredit.com.

Published December 16, 2019