The late Paul Mistele has been honoured with an award from
the Ontario Association of Food Banks for his pioneering work to develop a
pork-donation program.
During the depths of a severe depression in the hog industry
in 1988, Mistele persuaded hog farmers to donate pigs to food banks as a way to
draw public attention to the losses farmers were experiencing and, at the same
time help needy people.
I remember talking to him about his idea, and how impressed I was by his generosity and leadership.
The Ontario Pork marketing board has continued to organize
the donation system.
Others honoured by the Ontario Association of Food Banks are
Zoetis, Shur Gain and Mable Honor Farm run by the Fraser family.
The awards were presented during the annual Harvest Gala
organized by Farm and Food Care and held in Milton.
