This story is running with an edit from original publication. In
our May volunteer newsletter, we erroneously stated that Jon Van Erkel of Van
Erkel Farms grew potatoes for Second Harvest Heartland. Instead, Van Erkel
Farms grows another Volunteer Center favorite: onions! We are so grateful for the partnership of local farmers and
growers like Van Erkel Farms.
Stop 1: Local Farms
Our Second Harvest Heartland food sourcing team works with farmers to grow potatoes in bulk. Now that's a lot of potatoes!
Stop 2: Second Harvest Heartland Warehouse
The potatoes make their way to the Second Harvest Heartland warehouse, ready to be packed by volunteers! Fun fact: These bags weigh about 2,200 lb red mesh bags, and stack 30 bags to a pallet to go back into the warehouse. Bad potatoes aren't thrown away, but put into compost bins and sent to pig farmers to be used for food.
Stop 4: On the Truck
Bags of potatoes are added to a pallet of items ordered by a food shelf, then loaded onto a truck. Turn around time is fast - the potatoes may make it to a food shelf in 24 to 48 hours depending on where the food shelf is located.
Stop 5: PRISM Food Shelf in Golden Valley
The potatoes have made it to PRISM Food Shelf in Golden Valley, MN, where volunteers receive the items, open the mesh produce bags, and place the potatoes in their market-style food shelf where neighbors shop for fresh, nutritious foods
Final Stop: Neighbor's Table
The potatoes have made it to their end destination: Our neighbor's table. It takes all of us working together to create a strong hunger relief system where neighbors have the food they need to thrive!
