Feeding the Pigs

Did you know that not only does Stanwood Camano Island Food Bank feed people, it also feeds a couple of pigs! While we appreciate food donations, we can not use all of them. Moldy bread, milk past the expiration date, eight year old pasta, eggs that smell, and the such. Last year, there was such an abundance of apple crop donations, literally by the tons, that even our client base was overwhelmed.

When we get food that, for one reason or another, is not acceptable for human consumption, even that food does not go to waste. Instead, this food is routed to a small farmer, Tony, located on the Tulalip Reservation. Tony and his wife, feed their pigs from this leftover food. Tony’s small farm raises pigs, chickens, and cows. About 50% of these pig’s diet come from the Stanwood Camano food bank, an essential source for them, as well as treats for the chickens and cows.

Tony explains, “Our pigs especially love eggs. A couple of times, we gave them chocolate mix powder, and they loved that too. When the apples come out, our cows are in heaven from eating those.” Furthermore, Tony does not raise the pigs for slaughter, but for breading.

While we do not encourage people to donate unusable food, no matter what a food donation is, Stanwood Camano Food Bank makes sure that donation does not go to waste.