Press Releases
04/09/2020
Connecticut's dairy farm families provide support to ensure access to milk and dairy products in Connecticut
Lt. Governor Bysiewicz and Commissioner
Hurlburt Present $40,000 Donation to Food Banks on Behalf of Connecticut Milk
Promotion Board
(HARTFORD, CT) – Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Department of
Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt today joined Jason Jakubowski,
President and CEO of Foodshare, and Paul Shipman, spokesperson of Connecticut
Food Bank, to present a donation totaling $40,000 on behalf of Connecticut’s
dairy farm families to ensure that milk and dairy products are available to
food insecure households. In addition to the financial support, Dairy Farmers
of America, Guida’s Dairy, and Cabot Creamery Cooperative have committed to
donating dairy products to be distributed through Connecticut’s food bank
networks.
“One in nine Connecticut families struggle with food insecurity
every day and there is an incredible need for donations to ensure that
residents do not go hungry,” Lt. Governor Bysiewicz said. “We are grateful to
our local dairy farmers for stepping up to help in this critical time and thank
them for their generosity.”
Last week members of the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board voted
to donate $5,000 in each of Connecticut’s eight counties for a total of $40,000
to address the increased demand of food donations during the COVID-19 crisis.
Food assistance is needed in every community as more than 400,000 Connecticut
residents struggle with hunger and more than 115,000 children are food
insecure.
Foodshare received $10,000 to support their services in Hartford
and Tolland counties. “Dairy is one of the most requested items,” Jakubowski
said. “There’s a real need here in Central Connecticut. These are real people,
real families. We appreciate the generosity of this donation; it’s really
helpful especially at this time.”
Connecticut Food Bank received $30,000 to support their efforts
in Fairfield, Litchfield, New Haven, New London, Middlesex and Windham
counties. “For Connecticut Food Bank’s pantries and the people we serve, fresh
dairy is prized,” Shipman said. “This is a wonderful gift. It’s truly neighbors
helping neighbors in a time of need.”
The donations come at a time when Connecticut’s nearly 100 dairy
farmers are themselves facing incredible challenges. Across the country, and in
Connecticut, dairy farmers and processors are beginning to dump milk. Amid the
closures of schools and restaurants the supply chain has undergone upheaval as
processors, marketers, and merchants adapt to decreasing institution sales and
increased grocery store purchases.
“There’s plenty of milk and there will be plenty of milk to come as cows are milked every day,” Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt said. “Connecticut’s dairy farmers produce nearly 50 million gallons of milk annually guaranteeing a consistent supply for consumers. Now is the time to buy, or donate, milk to safeguard that we don’t lose these essential businesses in our food supply chain.”