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HomeGlobal NewsWoman Drives 19 Hours for Free Potatoes

Woman Drives 19 Hours for Free Potatoes

An unidentified woman from Kansas is set to drive 19 hours to a potato farm in Idaho to pick up some free potatoes.

Cranney Farms in Oakley, Idaho, are currently giving 2 million potatoes because the current coronavirus pandemic has decreased demand for their produce.

Loading free potatoes
Loading Free Potatoes

Ryan Cranney, CEO of Cranney Farms, has revealed that the majority of his potatoes usually are sold to grocery stores and restaurants to make French fries. However, due to the current pandemic, demand has dropped considerably, and they have been left with six months of crop.

He said: “With people staying home, these restaurants have shut down and so our markets have just kind of fallen apart. The factories that we sell to for French fries, they’ve lost their sales and had to shut factories down with freezers full of French fries and so the outlets for our potatoes, we’re having a difficult time getting them to market.”

The farm, therefore, made the decision to post about their surplus crop on Facebook, urging members of their community, around 700 members, to simply show up and take as many potatoes as they want.

The message, which Ryan Cranney posted on April 14, said: “FREE POTATOES – We started dumping potatoes today as we have no home for them because of this COVID-19 disaster. The potato supply chain has definitely been turned upside down. If you would like a few bags, come on by.”

Cranney went on to say: “I just felt like it could be something to maybe give back to the community. I know people are struggling financially with the shutdown of the economy.”

The original post has so far been shared 9.5k times and received 1.3k comments from local residents and people further afield, thanking them for their generosity and showing their support at this difficult time.

One user said: “As a fellow small business owner I feel for @Cranney Farms. I hope everyone realises that while they are giving these away, and this will help so many that are struggling to put food on the table, this is lost income to this family. If you have the means, please consider giving them what they would be worth to you in the store.”

Others suggested donating them to local food banks or soup kitchen, and one helpful user proposed making vodka.

Many asked if the generous farmer would consider shipping, whereas some, including the woman from Kansas, messaged to say that they would be happy to undertake a long journey to get their hands on some free potatoes, with Cranney revealing:

“The response has completely blown me away. People are coming from all over the place.”

He revealed that most people who have shown up so far are doing so to grab potatoes for others rather than themselves.

He said: “We gave a little bit and now they’re giving in return, and that’s made it worth it to me. It’s been fun for me to see people thinking of others and give their time and resources to take care of other people.”

Ryan Cranney, CEO of Cranney Farms
Ryan Cranney, CEO of Cranney Farms

Cranney Farm also grows sugar beets, wheat, barley, mustard seeds, corn, alfalfa, and they raise cattle, although over 50% of their sales come from their potato crop.

Cranney said: “We’ve made our best assumptions, so we’re cutting back what we’re going to grow this year. If things turn around quickly and take off, we’re going to be short. But if it drags on longer for several more months, it could be a total disaster. People are going to lose their farms over this.”

This heart-warming act of kindness comes as thousands line up at US food banks for aid due to a dramatic surge in unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

One food bank in San Antonio, California, revealed that it received more than 10,000 families last Thursday who arrived to pick up emergency food. However, they had only prepared for 6,000 families, forcing them to call local supply chains serving restaurants in the area and urge them to donate their food for local families in need.

The CEO of San Antonio Food Bank, Eric Cooper, said: “I wish we could’ve got to them faster and been able to meet that need a little smoother than having to sit out in a parking lot and wait, but it was just unprecedented.”

He added: “The need is so great at this time.”

CEO of San Antonio Food Bank, Eric Cooper
CEO of San Antonio Food Bank, Eric Cooper

Reports suggest that a third of those who are currently seeking relief from food banks in the US have never done so before, reflecting the extreme impact that the virus has had on the American economy.

President Trump has attempted to instil calm across the nation as families struggle to put food on the table, saying: “I’m not sure a lot of people will ever be the same, but I think our country – from an economic standpoint – will end up being stronger than ever. We have tremendous stimulus plans in place. Things in the works that are going to really – I think – fire the country. I think that what’s going to happen is we’re going to have a big bounce rather than a small bounce, but we will be back.”

Oscar Wyatt
Oscar Wyatt
I'm the editor at Breaking News Today and have been in the news and editing industry for years! Breaking News Today is a new outlet which we're building up and every single one of our readers means so much to us at this stage, we really appreciate your support!

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