Over the weekend we marked the 77th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. You may not know it, but the pivotal moment in history has a deep connection with farming.
155,000 soldiers took to the beaches of Normandy. They were supplied with weapons and the food they needed to make the invasion a success. A USDA historical expert says that the nation’s farmers played a critical role in the entire war effort.
They were called on to boost food production, even under tough conditions.
While young farmers were being drafted, civilian women and school children stepped up to work on the farms, and that allowed President Roosevelt to make this famous statement: “There’s enough food today for all of us, and enough leftover for us to send to those who are fighting with us.”
Victory Gardens also helped the effort. While commercial food suppliers focused on feeding the troops, civilians planted millions of victory gardens, inspired by need and patriotism.