Ag industry showing holiday generosity

Dec 11, 2020

Producers are donating to local causes with Christmas around the corner

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The U.S. ag industry is in the giving spirit as farmers and organizations are helping charities and causes close to their hearts this holiday season.

In multiple states, Christmas tree farmers are participating in the Trees for Troops program.

Each year, Christmas tree producers donate trees to active duty troops and their families.

In 2020, about 15,000 trees will be delivered to families and military bases around the country. Since the initiative started in 2005, branches of the U.S. military have received more than 244,000 Christmas trees.

“We just moved here. We don’t really have a (Christmas) tree in our house,” Joshua Otpoby, a member of the U.S. Army, told WRBL in Fort Benning, Ga. on Dec. 10. “The kids are going to come home from school today and see the real tree set up. It’s a special time of year and it is good for us.”

Members of the U.S. dairy industry are donating to local causes too.

Dairy producers in Utah and Dairy West are providing dairy products to families and organizations in the state as part of the Holiday Curds + Kindness program.

Recipients receive sandwiches, pizzas and totes of dairy products.

“We are proud to be back in our communities this holiday season knowing that when we work together, we come together as a dairy industry and as a community, when we help each other, we can make a difference,” Karianne Fallow, CEO of Dairy West, told Deseret News on Dec. 6.

The pork sector is showing its generosity as well.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) launched its “Give-a-Ham” challenge on social media in November.

The campaign encourages farmers to use the hashtag #GiveaHam to donate pork to local organizations.

“Giving back to our communities is a core value of hog farmers nationwide, Howard Roth, president of the NPPC, said in a statement. “It’s gratifying to come together as an industry this time of year to serve those in need.”

Anyone interested in donating to a local foodbank can find one through Feeding America.

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