Foster Farms has increased its Thanksgiving turkey donations by nearly 60 percent this year to address the rising demand for food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is donating 96,000 pounds of turkey, which will help feed more than 120,000 people facing food insecurity. This annual tradition began in 2008 and continues as part of Foster Farms’ response to community needs during crises.
The donated turkeys will be distributed to West Coast food banks from San Diego to Seattle in the coming days. Earlier in the pandemic, Foster Farms also provided over three million servings of poultry to food banks across California, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, and Louisiana.
Food insecurity has increased significantly nationwide due to the pandemic. More than 54 million Americans—including 18 million children—are projected to experience food insecurity. In California alone, almost one in eight adults and one in five children are uncertain about their next meal.
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is among the recipients of Foster Farms’ donations and will receive 12,000 pounds of turkey for its holiday drive. The organization has reported a doubling in demand for food assistance.
Blake Young, president and CEO of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, said: “We are grateful to Foster Farms for their longstanding support in providing Thanksgiving turkeys to our neighbors for over a decade. Foster Farms is there when we need them, and we are especially thankful for their added help these last few months to bring protein to so many families struggling to make ends meet in this time of crisis.”
Ira Brill, vice president of communications for Foster Farms, stated: “We hope that our turkey donations will help bring a sense of normalcy to the thousands of California, Oregon and Washington families in need this Thanksgiving. We must continue to find ways to social distance and be safe, but nobody should be denied participating in this tradition because of the economic impact of COVID-19. We ask everyone that can to join us by donating to food banks in their local communities.”
Other organizations receiving turkey donations include Second Harvest Food Bank (Manteca), SF-Marin Food Bank (San Francisco), Oregon Food Bank (Portland), Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank (San Diego), and Central California Food Bank (Fresno).
Foster Farms continues its commitment—spanning more than a decade—to fighting hunger on the West Coast through ongoing support for local communities.
The company also offers resources online at fosterfarms.com/campaigns/thanksgiving with tips on cooking times and recipes for Thanksgiving home cooks.
Since its founding in 1939 by Max and Verda Foster, Foster Farms has supplied chicken and turkey products throughout the West Coast. The company emphasizes fresh products without preservatives or additives and operates ranches primarily based in California’s Central Valley as well as other regions it serves.
Food safety remains a top priority at Foster Farms; consumers are reminded always to cook poultry products thoroughly—to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit measured by meat thermometer—for safety. More information is available at www.fosterfarms.com.
