Local food pantries benefit from control program
By Jane Myhra
A total of 60 pounds of goose meat has been donated to local food pantries by the Lake Iola Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District.
According to lake district chairman John Bertelson Jr., nine pounds were given to the Iola Food Pantry and 51 pounds to the Waupaca Area Food Pantry.
“This is something new for both food pantries,” Bertelson said.
After a goose roundup, the meat is tested for lead, mercury and PCBs. Then it is processed and wrapped in one-pound packages. Each adult goose yields about one pound of meat after processing.
Bertelson picked up 18 pounds of goose meat in Waupun, which came from the spring goose roundup on Lake Iola. He was also offered 42 pounds of goose meet from a roundup in Sturgeon Bay, because they could not distribute all of their meat.
According to Bertelson, the meat testing showed Lake Iola appears to be very clean.
“Of all the tested goose meat, that from Lake Iola was the only one to have no restrictions for use,” he said.
Bertelson expressed gratitude to the members of the lake district for their efforts and to the village of Iola for funding the goose roundup.
“The primary purpose of the goose removal program this year was to improve the public enjoyment of Lake Iola,” Bertelson said. “Being able to complete this effort by distributing the meat to area food pantries in time for the Thanksgiving holiday made it even more special.”