The meat was destined for cruise ships. Because of coronavirus, it’s coming to the Keys
Cargill Protein donated 10,000 pounds of beef, pork and chicken to the Florida Keys for its various food banks to help people during the coronavirus pandemic.
The food is part of the company’s frozen supply that would go to cruise ships at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. The cruise industry is under a 30-day suspension amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The shipment, which amounts to about $70,000 worth of meat, was organized by Islamorada resident and former Cargill employee Michale Rempe, and Mike Forster, owner of locally famous Mangrove Mike’s Cafe.
“That’s a nice donation,” Rempe said this week.
Forster has been offering free meals at his restaurant to locals since Monroe County ordered all hotels in the Keys closed last month, and he has donated supplies to local food banks.
Rempe said the one complaint he’s been hearing from food banks is they are running out of meat.
Another local business helping out in the effort is the Islamorada Fish Company restaurant, which donated freezer space for the meat, Forster said.
