President Chris Huisinga, a turkey farmer from Renville, Minnesota, says the turkey products will be distributed to food shelves and food banks across Greater Minnesota.

“Thanksgiving has always been a special holiday for Minnesota’s turkey farmers – all about tradition and giving thanks for our many blessings,” said Huisinga. “Many Minnesota families, however, struggle to put food on their tables. Through our annual partnership with HSM, we hope to help ease that struggle over the holidays.”

For Huisinga and his wife, Joi, this donation is even more special to them as they are wrapping up their first full year as turkey farmers. Huisinga has more than 70 years of turkey farming in his family history, and in 2017, he and his wife joined that legacy by starting a new farm.

“Farming and extending the family legacy in agriculture is important to us. We are grateful for the opportunities we’ve been given to raise turkeys,” said Huisinga. “Because we have so many blessings, we feel it’s important to give back to those who may need some extra help, and our fellow turkey farmers in Minnesota join us in that commitment.”

Since 2001, MTGA has donated over 286,000 pounds of turkey to various areas of the state, which will feed 381,000 people in Minnesota. These product contributions have been made possible by Minnesota’s turkey farmers and MTGA allied members as well as a portion of the sales from MTGA’s Turkey To Go restaurant at the Minnesota State.

Hunger Solutions Minnesota, a comprehensive hunger relief organisation that works to end hunger in Minnesota, will coordinate the purchase and distribution of the turkey. One in six Minnesota families struggles to put healthy meals on their tables. The need for emergency food relief continues to be a problem in Minnesota.

There are more than 3 million visits to food shelves in Minnesota every year. Volunteering or making a donation to Hunger Solutions Minnesota is a great way to help.

Approximately 450 turkey family farmers from Minnesota raise about 42.5 million birds annually. Minnesota remains steadfast at the #1 position in the US for turkey production.

Current US turkey production stands at approximately 242 million annually – which means Minnesota farmers raise nearly 18 percent of all US turkeys. Approximately 88 percent of all Americans will eat turkey at Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation.

MTGA was founded in 1939. Minnesota has the most independent turkey farmers of any state in the US.