Madison—Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), on Thursday announced a yearlong investment of $30 million in the state’s two largest hunger relief organizations.

The $30 million will be used to ensure food-insecure residents around the state receive hunger relief. To help achieve this goal, Evers is building on the partnership established last year with Hunger Task Force and Feeding Wisconsin to deliver these resources across the state. Through this program, each organization will be eligible for $15 million to purchase food resources and may use up to $5 million to invest in storage and distribution, and to cover transportation costs.

“With this dedicated funding for the Food Security Initiative, dollars will be used to purchase Wisconsin products wherever possible,” said Randy Romanski, DATCP secretary. “Through this program, Governor Evers is strengthening Wisconsin’s food security networks and investing in our local Wisconsin farmers and processors.”

“Throughout the pandemic, amid supply chain disruptions and unpredictable market conditions, dairy processors remained committed to their essential mission: making delicious, nutritious dairy foods,” said John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.

“The Food Security Initiative has fostered impactful relationships between hunger relief organizations and the dairy processing community to meet a still-staggering demand for food aid,” Umhoefer continued. “We thank Governor Evers for again investing in this program, as dairy processors are eager to continue their partnerships with Hunger Task Force and Feeding Wisconsin, and support Wisconsinites facing food insecurity.”

“Through the Food Security Initiative, Hunger Task Force deployed a fleet of 13 refrigerated trucks and seven refrigerated cargo vans accompanied by fork trucks, pallet jacks and commercial grade coolers as far north as Red Cliff, and south as Kenosha,” said Sherrie Tussler, executive director of Hunger Task Force. “We also strategically purchased foods from family farms and small food producers in Wisconsin to assure their solvency during difficult supply chain issues. With this yearlong investment, we are proud to assist the Evers administration to support farmers and food producers while we work to end hunger in local communities.”