Contacts:
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Friday, June 19, 2009

Montpelier, VT. – Over the past week did you purchase a Vermont dairy product? If so, your effort may have helped prevent the closure of another neighbor’s Vermont farm. This past weekend, while many Vermonters went about their usual Saturday activities including grocery shopping for the week, many in Northern Chittenden and Franklin County participated in a collective effort to support Vermont’s needy families and struggling dairy farmers by purchasing a Vermont dairy product. Over 2,300 pounds of product was donated during the first drive.

“Vermonters are known for helping each other out when many of our friends and neighbors are struggling. The dairy drive is an excellent example of a variety of businesses and organizations – public and private – coordinating to find creative solutions to help needy families and our dairy industry,” said Governor Douglas who attended the Saturday event in Milton. “We all can help be part of the solution: the state, our businesses, and Vermonters who use their purchasing power to help others,” the Governor added.

The effort featured a joint collaboration of the Vermont Grocers Association, the Vermont Foodbank, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Cabot Creamery Cooperative and Ben & Jerry’s. The dairy goods donated will help out the 66,000 Vermonters who are in need of food assistance. All donated goods will be distributed by the Vermont Foodbank to address the recent increasing need.

In the last ten months, the Vermont Foodbank has seen an increase in families seeking food assistance of 35-45 percent. The dairy drive is especially crucial right now for two reasons: while children are out of school for summer break, they don’t have access to one or possibly two meals they might have had while in school, as well as more limited access to dairy products.

Secondly, our dairy farmers are facing an unprecedented crisis. The most significant downturn in milk prices paid to dairy farmers in decades coupled with the cost of production is making the business of dairy farming difficult and in some cases impossible.

Below is the schedule of Dairy Drives planned with locations and times. If you can’t make it to one of the actual events, the Vermont Foodbank is sponsoring a virtual dairy drive. Donations can be made to purchase dairy products by visiting: www.vtfoodbank.org/donate/dairy/.

Upcoming Dairy Food Drive 2009 scheduled dates and locations:

Saturday, July 11th (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
- Burlington - Shelburne Road Price Chopper
- Williston - Hannaford
- Colchester - Shaws

Saturday, August 8th (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
- Brattleboro - Hannaford and Price Chopper

Visit www.vtfoodbank.org/donate/dairy/ to make a donation on line or to learn more.

Editor’s note: photos are available by contacting Kelly Loftus at 802-828-3829 or kelly.loftus@state.vt.us.