Wild Salmon Project
Turning Curiosity into Change
What began as a moment of observation turned into a catalytic question that reshaped food equity in Northeast Wisconsin. Through the leadership of Long Vue, Executive Director of NEW HMong, and a coalition of committed partners, a sustainable food rescue initiative was born — reclaiming thousands of pounds of fresh salmon and delivering it to communities that need it most.
The Spark: A Simple Question with Big Implications
In the fall of 2022, Long Vue stood on the banks of Kewaunee River during the salmon run, observing the powerful migration of thousands of fish. What struck Vue was not just the beauty of nature, but the waste.
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“I saw thousands of salmon — and then I saw how many were being thrown away,” he said. “I thought, ‘If they’re just discarding them, could someone like me take one home to eat?’ They said no. But it was still good salmon. That stuck with me.”
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This simple question - why good food was going to waste - became the seed for a transformative idea.
Lived Experience Meets Leadership
Vue's insight was shaped by lived experience. Born in Laos, he spent over four years in a refugee camp before arriving in the U.S. in 1980. His family relied on food pantries, and the lack of fresh, nutritious, and culturally familiar food made an indelible mark on him.
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“As a child, I didn’t know what hunger was - because I was never full,” Vue reflected. “You were lucky to get ground beef or a few drumsticks. Fresh fish, like salmon, was unheard of.”
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Now leading a nonprofit that supports Hmong youth, elders, and families in the region, Vue knew firsthand how systemic barriers - from language to access - prevent many from receiving food that nourishes both body and mind (culture).
Building the Innovation Upstream Initiative
After learning that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) collects salmon eggs for spawning and discards the fish afterward — many of which are still viable for human consumption — Vue began researching potential uses for the discarded salmon.
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He found that while some of the fish were turned into fertilizer or animal feed, regulations and food safety concerns prevented distribution for human use unless they were handled by an approved organization. Vue, through the Food Leaders Lab of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, develop a food rescue initiative with the necessary infrastructure and safety standards.
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Together, they formed Innovation Upstream, a cross-sector partnership aimed at reclaiming salmon that would otherwise be discarded and distributing it to food-insecure families, including Hmong elders and tribal communities.
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Liz Wollenberg, Vice President of Regional Strategy at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, emphasized that the initiative went beyond simply providing food. It focused on promoting equity, improving access, and respecting cultural food traditions—all sparked by a single individual's question.
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Innovation Upstream collected over 10,000 pounds of salmon, which resulted in over 3,500 pounds of fillet salmon to community-based organizations, food pantries, and tribal partners across Northeast Wisconsin. The program brought culturally relevant, high-quality protein to families who rarely have access to such food.
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Wollenberg described the response as remarkable, noting that families who might never have had the opportunity to eat fresh salmon were finally able to do so. She highlighted that it provided not only nourishment but also a sense of pride and a meaningful cultural connection.
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Vue further advanced the initiative through his participation in Feeding America’s Food Leaders Lab, where he refined the model and built support for scaling the effort. The program continues to grow. With each salmon run in Lake Michigan, the potential to expand increases.
A Model for Replication and Equity
What started as a moment of curiosity has evolved into a replicable model for food equity — one that transforms overlooked resources into life-sustaining nourishment. Through vision, partnership, and cultural humility, Long Vue and Innovation Upstream are redefining what it means to feed a community with dignity and relevance.
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This project exemplifies how community-driven insight, cross-sector collaboration, and cultural awareness can together solve systemic challenges — and turn waste into wellbeing.