Pineland Farms donates 12,000 pounds of cheese to Good Shepherd

AUBURN – Good Shepherd Food Bank has received 12,000 pounds of donated handcrafted cheese from Pineland Farms, of New Gloucester, and Dairy Farmers of America, which has been distributed to the food bank’s network of over 500 partner agencies.
The donation is part of an initiative that began in the spring of 2020 to aid relief efforts for Maine families and businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everyone loves the Pineland cheese,” aid Tracy Kelly, Come Spring Food Pantry in Union. “It is really good locally produced cheese. I’ve had lots of positive feedback.”
In the first donation, Pineland Farms Dairy produced 34,586 pounds of cheese to be distributed across the state of Maine through Good Shepherd Food Bank’s partner network. Keeping the same process for the second round, Dairy Farmers of America works with local dairy farms to gather milk for the cheese production. Two tankers of milk were sent every week to Pineland Farms Dairy to be turned into cheese.
“This partnership allows food-insecure Mainers access to nutritious, high-quality, locally-made cheese,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “With food insecurity rates being projected to rise by 25% during the pandemic, we are grateful for the donation from Dairy Farmers of America and Pineland Farms Dairy, and are excited to start distributing it to our partner agencies.”
Using 100 percent fresh Maine milk from surrounding family farms, Pineland Farms Dairy creates unique, handcrafted cheeses while supporting local agriculture. Pineland Farms Dairy president Mark Whitney said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to send this product directly to Good Shepherd Food Bank and to work with organizations who support both Maine farmers and Maine families in need.”
For more information on the program, visit www.feedingmaine.org or www.pinelandfarmsdairy.com