General Mills Thinks Out of the Box in Donations to Food Shelves

Though in Golden Valley produces some of the most well-known boxed and canned foods in supermarkets today, the company is giving fresh produce, straight from the garden, to those in need in the community.

When the General Mills Foundation, the corporation’s charitable and community action arm, decided it wanted to give fresh produce donations to local food shelves, it put out for volunteers.

Fortunately, it just so happened that they had a master gardener in their midst.

“I grew up on a farm, and so I’ve been gardening ever since I’ve been a kid.” said Lori Gieselman, a General Mills accountant and Master Gardener, certified by the University of Minnesota. Gieselman eagerly volunteered to spearhead the Giving Garden project.

The Giving Garden, a 2,750-square-foot vegetable garden, expanded from 1,400 square feet after its inaugural 2010 season. It is located in an inconspicuous patch of the General Mills grounds by the road.

Their works, however, don’t go unnoticed by (PRISM) and NorthPoint, which regularly receive crops of much needed fresh produce.

“We had a tour of the facility before we partnered up with PRISM” Gieselman said, recounting an eye-opening moment. “There’s a lot of boxed items, but a minimal amount of fresh produce.” Providing those recognizable mainstays is always welcome.

"It's fantastic," says Diane Erickson, Volunteer and Resource Director at PRISM. "It's really nice to have fresh produce grown."

PRISM accepts produce donations from grocery stores, local farmers markets, and even home gardens. But typical produce isn't always what food shelves have the greatest need for. The volunteers who maintain the Giving Garden have taken advice from the food shelves and planted vegetables like edamame and bok choy.

The Giving Garden has reaped benefits for the community, but an unexpected bonus has sprouted.

“Last year we had 53 different people that volunteered,” Gieselman said. “This year it’s been a lot more," and not just from headquarters. The volunteers come from many other General Mills locations and divisions.

Gieselman said she and other volunteers have had a chance to meet General Mills employees they wouldn’t otherwise meet.

This year, the volunteer program has expanded to bring in retirees. “They’ve been helping out in the garden and leading the events. Last year it was primarily me and a couple other people that led the garden,” she said.

The growing number of people wanting to take the reins has been a big help.

There are no plans to create Giving Gardens at other General Mills facilities at this time, but volunteers would like to expand the current garden.

“The type of donations that they (food shelves) receive aren’t as fresh as what we can provide straight out of the garden," Gieselman said. "A lot of people donate stuff that they don’t want. We donate stuff that is fresh out of the garden, that we are envious that they get to eat.”