Farmers are quietly solving one of our biggest problems
OPINION: As food insecurity deepens across New Zealand, a powerful solution is quietly unfolding in our rural communities - and it starts at the farm gate.
Patoa Farms in North Canterbury has come on board, donating one pig a week to supply the region’s food banks and community organisations.
The partnership with the free farmed family business also means Meat the Need can supply more food banks in the region.
Patoa Farms wholesale and procurement manager, Jelle Edzes says they are ‘honoured’ to be able to donate.
“Often it is more of a blessing to be able to give, than to receive a gift and in this case we feel that way. It causes us to reflect on everything we have and be thankful,” Edzes says.
“One of Patoa’s core values is to be a blessing to its people and local community. Meat the Need fits the criteria for caring for those in need in our community and we were keen to see pork distributed alongside the other proteins Meat the Need makes available,” he says.
Edzes says he is very proud of those who have made the distribution possible.
“Nutrition is vitally important and meat protein is essential to our nutritional needs. By providing easy to prepare pork to food banks via Meat the Need, we know we can alleviate the pressures on those in our local community who need help,” he says. “By providing a consistent supply of pork, we can help food banks do what they do best, and through that we can all work together to help our community thrive.”
Meat the Need and Feed Out general manager Zellara Holden says she is excited about the new partnership with Patoa Farms and the immediate effect it has had on nourishing those who need it most with the introduction of five new food banks.
“We’re incredibly thankful to Patoa Farms for coming on board. It’s truly exciting to be able to introduce a new line of protein for those facing food insecurity in the North Canterbury region, especially when it’s grown straight in their backyard and donated from a local farmer,” Holden says.
“This partnership is a testament to the generosity and dedication of our farming community,” she adds.
“As a charity, we’re dedicated to connecting local farmers with their local communities. At the end of the day, it’s clear just how much our farmers care about giving back and nourishing New Zealanders in need.”
