Ag United News

New Program Formed to Help Feed the Hungry - From Our Families to Your Family

October 1, 2009 - SIOUX FALLS, SD - Agriculture United For South Dakota and the Community Food Banks of South Dakota are partnering up to feed the hungry.    This is being done through a new program called, From Our Families to Your Family.  The program is in part funded by South Dakota Soybean farmers through the United Soybean Board. Other support to implement this project also comes from the South Dakota Pork Producers Council and the South Dakota Corn Council. 

Hogs donated to the program will be processed into ground pork which will be distributed to families across South Dakota, with the help of the Community Food Banks of South Dakota.  From Our Families to Your Family will be processing 50 hogs between October 2009 and May 2010.  Producers who donate a hog to the program will receive $20 in ethanol certificates from the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. 

 "Currently one out of every seven South Dakotans lives below the poverty line.  The 50 hogs being donated to local food banks will provide approximately 7,500 pounds of meat to families.  This 7,500 pounds of meat will feed approximately 4,000 families," said Steve Rommereim, President of the South Dakota Pork Producers. 

"This partnership is very valuable to those needing more protein in their diet.  Protein is more expensive to buy so it is often left out.  There is no product more valuable we can have donated to the hungry then pork and like protein sources," said Matt Gassen, Executive Director of The Community Food Banks of South Dakota.   

Pork is a great source of major nutrients such as thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, phosphorus and protein, zinc and potassium. To check out the more than 80 ground pork recipes along with recipes for other cuts of pork visit:  www.TheOtherWhiteMeat.com .

Ag United was developed through a collaboration of farm organizations that support livestock production and development and includes the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Pork Producers Council and the South Dakota Soybean Association. The President of the organization is Volga farmer, Scott VanderWal; the Secretary is Astoria farmer, Dave Iverson.

The Community Food Banks of South Dakota was formed in January of 2004 with the merge of The Food Service Center, Inc. in Sioux Falls, SD, and The Black Hills Regional Food Bank, Inc. in Rapid City.   The decision to merge the two organizations meant they could combine their common missions to more effectively address hunger issues all across South Dakota. Additionally, by collaborating on product solicitation and transportation partnerships greater quantities of food could be procured to meet the increasing demand for assistance.