Local Subsidiary Vermont Creamery Joins Event and Donates St. Albans Cheese
Barre, VT, August 28 – Land O’Lakes, Inc donated nearly 40,000 pounds of LAND O LAKES® Macaroni & Cheese to Vermont Foodbank through the Land O’Lakes First Run Program.
The First Run Program has donated over 7.4 million pounds of product since it was established in 2010. The program is committed to donating truckloads of fresh product year-round, made specifically for food banks to help alleviate hunger across the United States.
“As a farmer-owned cooperative, Land O’Lakes, Inc is deeply committed to hunger relief. This effort begins locally in the communities that our members and employees call home, many of them rural.” Said Sheilah Stewart, SVP & General Counsel, Land O’Lakes, Inc. “We are honored to help our Feeding America food bank partners get fresh, nutritious food directly to the families who need it most.”
Land O’Lakes EVP & President, Dairy Foods, Heather Anfang, visited Vermont Foodbank in recognition of this donation being made in partnership with Vermont Creamery, an independent subsidiary of Land O’Lakes. Vermont Creamery also donated a pallet of St. Albans Cheese to Vermont Foodbank this week.
“Hunger is a critical issue in Vermont, and Vermont Creamery and the Vermont Foodbank share a deep commitment to nourishing our neighbors. The Foodbank’s work directly supports families here in Barre, where our Creamery is proud to call home. We are grateful for Land O’Lakes’ generous donation of 40,000 pounds of food, which will make a real impact on our community. As always, we’re honored to be part of Barre and to support the place and people that sustain us,” noted Harrison Kahn, General Manager.
“Vermont Foodbank is grateful for this partnership and the support of food producers like Land O’Lakes and Vermont Creamery. This donation supports Vermont Foodbank’s mission to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships so that everyone in Vermont has the food they need to thrive. This donation will go directly to the tables of neighbors throughout the state and is particularly critical at this moment when other support systems, including key federal nutrition programs, are being reduced,” said Carrie Stahler, Sr. Manage of Government & Public Affairs at Vermont Foodbank. “Contributions like this help us sustain our core work and the core work of our more than 220 partner organizations across Vermont,” Stahler continued.
The donation will be distributed throughout Vermont Foodbank’s network of more than 220 local food shelves and meal sites across Vermont. These organizations, together with Vermont Foodbank, serve an average of 70,000 people each month. Vermont Foodbank distributes between 1 and 1.2 million pounds of food statewide each month.
About Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2024 annual sales of $16 billion, Land O’Lakes is one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, ranking 262 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 100 years of operation, Land O’Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Truterra. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O’Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
About Vermont Creamery
Founded in 1984 and B Corp Certified since 2014, Vermont Creamery is a pioneer of American artisan cheese. Its suite of goat cheese and cultured dairy products has earned hundreds of national and international awards. With a commitment to quality, sustainability, and supporting a vibrant network of family farms, Vermont Creamery continues to champion exceptional food made with care. The Creamery is an independently operated subsidiary of farmer-owned Land O’Lakes, Inc. Learn more at www.vermontcreamery.com.
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Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, providing nutritious food through a network of more than 300 community partners – food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, and housing sites. Food insecurity has increased dramatically as a result of the pandemic, economic disruptions, and recent flooding. The Vermont Foodbank and its network have been on the front lines, working to ensure that everyone has the food they need to maintain their health. Last year, the Vermont Foodbank provided over 12 million pounds of food to people throughout Vermont. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation.
