It is estimated that almost 40% of food goes unsold or uneaten, yet thousands of people across our region struggle with hunger.
The Solution: Food industry donors team up with North Country Food Bank to get their surplus food to those who need it. Because of the commitment of local retailers, manufacturers, growers, and other food industry partners, we are able to capture food that would otherwise go to waste, and keep our neighbors fed. Food industry donors are critical to our distribution efforts.
This valuable partnership with the food industry ensures that North Country Food Bank is able to deliver food to the dinner tables of families in need.
For nearly 20 years, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation have worked with Feeding America, local food banks, food pantries and meals programs to transform the charitable food experience.
North Country Food Bank is fortunate to see food donations from eight local stores in NW Minnesota, directly supporting the food shelves in those communities.
Cub
Cub was founded in Minnesota in 1968, offering the best produce in town, a full selection of meat and seafood, deli and bakery favorites, pet food, gift cards and flowers. Cub has been delivering great value and supporting the community for over 50 years.
North Country Food Bank is grateful for the strong relationship with Cub in Alexandria, MN. They were the #1 retail food donor in 2023! Thank you, Cub!
Established in 1941, brothers, Albert and Lawrence Boushey began A&L Potato Company, Inc. They envisioned delivering the finest quality potatoes to families throughout the United States. Today the company continues to operate under Randy and Charles Boushey with the fourth generation slowly emerging into the business as well. Their strong family values and commitment to their customers with the finest quality potatoes make them an incredible partner. Randy has been instrumental helping connect us to other areas growers. He has stepped up to the plate every time we have called him for help. Whether it is washing and packing loads for us or referring other opportunities our way, Randy is truly a man who has made a huge impact on families struggling to provide fresh nutritional food for their families.
Target was originally created in 1962 and is officially in all 50 states, thanks to the 2018 addition of our first store in Vermont.
Each year, Target strengthens our communities by giving 5% of profits back in cash, products, and through the Target Foundation. Target volunteers serve 1 million hours in their communities annually.
By 2030, Target plans to achieve zero waste to landfill in U.S. operations. Their goal to reduce operational food waste by 50% across the stores, supply chain facilities and headquarters has already been achieved. Target is a wonderful corporate partner helping fight food insecurity!
Hugo's Family Marketplace is a family owned grocer in ND and MN, with a total of 12 stores. North Country Food Bank is lucky to partner with and receive food donations from eight Hugo's locations! They are some of our top food rescue partners, contributing over 275,000 meals to local partner agencies in 2023.
We appreciate the local support of Hugo's Family Marketplace.
Founded in 1921, Land O Lakes is one of America' s premiere farmer-owned cooperatives. It offers farmers, local cooperatives and customers across the United States an extensive line of agricultural supplies, as well as state-of-the-art production and business services. The company is also one of the leading marketers of dairy-based products for consumers, foodservice professionals and food manufacturers. Its brand is recognized and valued by consumers and customers both nationwide and internationally. Its dairy products include butter, margarine, spreads, cheese and whipping cream. Land O Lakes does business in all 50 of the United States, as well as in more than 50 countries. The company maintains offices in Thief River Falls, MN where we benefit from their distribution center donations.
Lueken's Food Stores, Inc. was founded in 1966 by Joe Lueken. He built his business on honesty and serving his employees and customers like family.
There are two Lueken's locations in Bemidji and they are such a reliable food rescue donor and community partner! Thank you, Lueken's, for supporting Bemidji and the surrounding areas!
With 2,415 store locations in the United States, ALDI has become a well-known grocery brand. We are fortunate that ALDI is a national partner with the Feeding America network.
North Country Food Bank's partner agencies receive donations from six ALDI locations in northwest Minnesota (and Grand Forks)!
There are numerous Coborn's locations across Minnesota, but only one in the food bank's service area (Park Rapids). A generous donor with commitment to the local community, Coborn's lands in the top ten food donors almost every month. We appreciate these donations to help fight food insecurity!
There are two Super One locations in North Country's service area; Wadena and Roseau. The donations from these stores goes a long way to help the local communities!
Central Market is a locally owned and independently operated full-service grocery store serving the lakes area, with locations in Detroit Lakes and Perham.
We have appreciated the local support of Central Market since 2021.
Founded back in 1930, KFC is famous for its fried chicken and now has over 24,000 locations around the world. As a national partner of Feeding America food banks, KFC donates valuable protein to local food shelves.
In northwest Minnesota, three KFC locations donate locally.
Their potato-growing heritage extends back to 1905, when Nels Folson of Hoople, North Dakota, became the first commercial potato grower in North Dakota. In 1952, Richard 'Bud' Folson incorporated his own farming venture in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. In the 1980's, Folson Farms added the leadership of two of Bud's sons, Bryan and Barry, who took over the business in the early 90's. In the summer of 2014 Folson offered us over 1 million lbs. of their surplus potatoes. With the help of Molly Donaldson from Feeding America we were able to work with Dale Griggs, their Plant Manager and capitalize on this opportunity and supply potatoes to the entire state of MN and to the Feeding America network of food banks throughout the USA.
KLN Family Brands is the parent company of Tuffy's Pet Foods, Tuffy's Treats, and Kenny's Candy & Co.
Throughout its history, KLN Family Brands has been a family business. In 2002 Charlie Nelson, son of Kenny Nelson and grandson of Darrell Nelson, joined the KLN Corporation to become the 3rd generation to carry on the Nelson family legacy.
We are extremely grateful for their on-going help with support. North Country Food Bank has been working with KLN for a number of years.
Elden's Fresh Foods is a local grocer in Alexandria, MN. The staff at Elden's are truly interested in giving back to the community and have supported the local food shelf in ways beyond food rescue donations. Thank you, Elden's, for being a partner!
Peatland Reds Inc. is owned by Dennis & Danielle Magnell and Ken, Jim and John Gunvalson. Their business has grown to include new markets throughout the Red River Valley. Working closely with Isaac Magnell, we are matching their deliveries to local agencies supplying fresh potatoes on a regular time-line. Peatland has been a terrific partner willing to work with the food bank to develop new ways to serve those in need in our large and very rural service area.
Shearer's Foods, LLC is a U.S. manufacturer and distributor of snack foods. Founded in 1974 as Shearer's Snacks in Brewster, Ohio. In 2016, Shearer's acquired Barrel O' Fun Salty Snack business from KLN in Perham, MN. They have several plants throughout the US and distribute worldwide.
We are extremely grateful for their on-going help with the donation process. North Country Food Bank has been working with Shearer's for a number of years.
SunOpta-Alexandria
SunOpta’s soymilk plant in Alexandria, MN has donated close to a ½ million lbs. of aseptic (shelf stable) soymilk as well as fresh soymilk. When their product is manufactured it is shipped into regional cold storage facilities around the US. When Linda Wayne calls with a donation, we either pick it up in Alexandria or call our neighboring Feeding America Food Bank to notify them they have a wonderful donation waiting for pick-up nearby. Not only does SunOpta give us every opportunity to capture their surplus inventory, but they also sent a large number of employees to volunteer. They are so easy to work with and a true blessing helping so many people with their delicious, healthy milk.
SunOpta-Crookston
This SunOpta location is the old Dahlgren plant. They make delicious healthy snacks. This year they found they had an abundance of seasoned sunflower seeds and kernels.
In 1964, Bud Thoen founded Douglas Machine with a vision to invent and build exceptional automated packaging machinery. Two years later, Vern Anderson, the current CEO of Douglas Machine, joined the fledgling business. Later that year the company sold its first machine to Curtis Candy Company for $6,476. From the very beginning, a deep appreciation for the customers’ ongoing trust drives the company to be a great supplier with values based upon respect.
Douglas Machines builds many systems for food companies. When the line is finished they typically test it with real food products. When the testing is complete they donate the product to us. We receive a wide variety of foodboth canned and frozen as well as much needed cleaning supplies. Kris Tvrdik their Material Planning Coordinator has been a fantastic advocate watching for donation opportunities for us.
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North Country Food Bank serves 21 counties in northwest and west central Minnesota and part of Grand Forks, North Dakota.