Great Plains Food Bank served more than 167,000 individuals in 2025 across 54 counties, an 11% increase from 2024.

“The need right now is incredibly high,” said Ann Prifrel, CEO of Great Plains Food Bank. “Families are facing difficult choices every day, and many communities continue to see a growing demand for food assistance. This facility will allow us to respond to that need by creating the infrastructure to serve more people, in more communities, more frequently, and more efficiently.”

Great Plains Food Bank has operated out of its current Fargo distribution center since 2000. Over the past several years, the organization has outgrown the facility, relying on costly offsite storage and temporary trailer storage while facing ongoing operational and infrastructure limitations that restrict future growth.

The new 70,500-square-foot statewide distribution center will increase warehouse capacity by 57%, significantly expanding the organization’s ability to accept, store and distribute food across its service region. The facility will include expanded warehouse and pallet storage capacity, increased cooler and freezer space and additional loading docks for improved transportation efficiencies.

Submitted Photo A ceremonial groundbreaking takes place at the site of the new Great Plains Food Bank Distribution Center in Fargo.

The new building is designed to modernize and strengthen the Great Plains Food Bank’s operations while improving efficiency across its network of nearly 200 partner agencies, pantries, shelters and meal programs.

“This facility will become the foundation that supports our evolving mission for decades to come,” Prifrel said. “While these walls will expand our physical capacity, it’s the work happening across communities throughout North Dakota and Clay County that will truly define its impact. It will allow us to go further and deeper into communities, strengthen local partnerships, and respond to hunger in more innovative and community-centered ways.”

The facility is expected to open in the fall of 2027.