Truck loads of potatoes, cabbage to be given away

Tag : cabbage

Truck loads of potatoes, cabbage to be given away
Fri, Aug 29, 2008 to del.icio.us BY MARK BROOKY
mbrooky@grandhaventribune.com


Harbor Island will be swimming in potatoes and cabbage on aSaturday next month, and the community is asked to take as much asit as they can use.


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A local produce broker has arranged to deliver approximately 40,000pounds of potatoes and about 30,000 pounds of cabbage to the islandon Saturday, Sept. 20.
"The produce business has been good to me and I'd like to give backto the community and set an example," said Don Armstrong, a GrandHaven resident and president of Armstrong Potatoes LLC.
Volunteers are being sought to help bag and distribute the producefrom 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day of the delivery, in two three-hourshifts, and for cleaning up after the event.
Leah Rust, assistant director at Love INC, is coordinating theevent. She envisions local families bagging potatoes and handingout the vegetables, and taking some home for themselves.
Armstrong has arranged for a semitrailer truck to pick up the loadof potatoes from Heiss Farms near Ravenna, and a second truck willpick up the cabbage — and possibly some pumpkins — fromDeGroot Farms in St. Anne, Ill. — on the morning of Sept. 20.Dale Hey Trucking of Lakeview is supplying the trucks, andArmstrong is supplying 5,000 8-pound bags for the potatoes.
"These potatoes will be dug that morning and graded and broughtright down, so they'll be excellent quality potatoes," Armstrongsaid.
Armstrong ought to know. He has been a produce broker for more than33 years, an inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for10 years and a buyer for the Kroger Co. for four years — atotal of 47 years in the produce business. His company shipspotatoes to Campbell Soup Co. plants in Ohio, North Carolina, Texasand California, and several other food processing and repackingplants. He said he buys spuds from 11 states, including Michigan.
From his Florida office, Armstrong recently arranged for localchildren to pick potatoes from a field to take home free to theirfamilies — but he has never done anything like the70,000-pound giveaway next month in Grand Haven.
"It's possible we might do the same thing next year," Armstrongsaid.
Rust said Armstrong approached her about his idea earlier thissummer, but she said Love INC wouldn't be able to handle more thana few thousand pounds of potatoes at one time.
"We've got six food pantries — and yes, we need food —but storage and all of that is a huge issue," Rust said. "So westarted asking other places and agencies. Teen Challenge (of NortonShores) is going to get involved. I'm hoping the Muskegon RescueMission will take some, the Holland Rescue Mission, other foodpantries. People Center (of Spring Lake) is going to be able totake some of those."
Because there will be so much fresh produce to give away, Rust andArmstrong are inviting anyone who can use potatoes or cabbage tocome to the island that day and take some home.
"If people can use it, great," Rust said.
Rust said they've obtained approval from the city to hold the eventon the north end of the island, near the restrooms. Dave Palmer ofthe Spread the Music Foundation is arranging for live music duringthe event, Rust is setting up children's face painting and games,and Fat Chix Coffee Cantina of Grand Haven is donating coffee forvolunteers.
"If it rains (the day of the event), I think the worst-casescenario (is) we get wet and we do it in the rain," Rust said. "...I have to remind myself, this is a really big blessing and I know alot of people can benefit from it."
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WHAT: Potato and cabbage giveaway
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Harbor Island
TO HELP: Call Leah Rust at Love INC at 846-2701.