PORK, CORN AND SOYBEAN GROUPS TO DONATE 13,000 POUNDS OF PORK TO MIDWEST FOOD BANK

Tricia Braid

Nov 29, 2012  |  Today's News

Illinois corn farmers are proud to continue their partnership with Pork Power, a program that has provided more than 1.25 million meals including pork to needy families in Illinois. Supporting the livestock industry and livestock farmers are top priorities of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, and this win-win program is good for everyone.

As part of the Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Illinois campaign, the Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA), along with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) and the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) today announced a donation of more than 13,000 pounds of ground pork to the Midwest Food Bank (MFB) in Bloomington.

This donation will support the on-going efforts of Gridley Meats and several pork producers who have continued to donate pigs throughout the year. The donated pigs are processed by Gridley Meats.This donated pork is distributed to needy families throughout Central Illinois.

In 2008, IPPA launched Pork Power with the goal of helping fight hunger in Illinois. Since its inception, Pork Power has generated more than 316,000 pounds of pork. With this donation, the Pork Power program surpasses more than 1.25 million servings of pork provided to families throughout Illinois.

The Pork Power program is also an opportunity to promote pork as families are educated on how to prepare and incorporate pork into their favorite dishes. Families receive information on the important nutritional, mental and physical benefits of including protein in the diet.

“Pork producers are committed to helping their neighbors throughout the state who are having difficulty feeding their families,” said Mike Haag, a pork producer from Emington and Immediate Past President of the IL Pork Producers Association ( www.ilpork.com ). “It is

important that Illinois families have access to protein not just during the holiday season, but throughout the year as well. Illinois pork producers are dedicated to producing safe, wholesome and affordable food and are proud to work with the partnering organizations to support the Midwest Food Bank and Gridley Meats' pork donation program.”

Bill Christ, a corn farmer from Metamora, Ill., and immediate past-chairman of the IL Corn Marketing Board ( www.ilcorn.org ) agrees that the partnership is the right thing to do at the right time. “This type of project is a winning situation for everyone involved, not just the Corn Marketing Board or pork producers, but most importantly, our neighbors throughout Illinois will receive protein which is vital to everyone's nutritional needs. I’m glad that Illinois corn farmers can help make pork available at a local level.”

"As farmers, we believe it is our responsibility to feed the world," says John Hagenbuch, a farmer from Utica, Ill., and current Illinois Soybean Association ( www.ilsoy.org ) board member. "Illinois commodity groups work together toward that goal, and Pork Power is a great example. Illinois livestock, especially hogs, are the top consumers of Illinois soybeans, so through this donation, soybean farmers are doing their part to feed those in need in Illinois."

Each day, food banks provide access to healthy and nutritious food in an effort to keep families across Illinois from going to bed hungry. USDA recommends meat protein as part of a well-balanced and nutritious diet, yet it is often difficult for food banks to maintain an adequate supply. The Pork Power partners are committed to making meat protein available to those most in need. This donation will provide more than 52,000 servings of protein to people served by the Midwest Food Bank.

This pork donation builds upon the on-going efforts of Gridley Meats and several local pork producers. Gridley Meats periodically receives pig donations from up to eight different local pork producers. Four of these producers regularly donate pigs including: Kuntz Farms of Gridley; Ringger Farms from Gridley; Tim Leman and Leman Farms from Eureka: Mike Haag from Emington and The Maschhoffs from Carlyle. The pork products are then donated to the Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington.

The Midwest Food Bank was created in 2003 when the Kieser family began providing food out of a shed on their family farm. The MFB began by serving about 10 food pantries in McLean County. Today they serve over 500 organizations across the Midwest. The food given out each month now reaches over 100,000 people.

“The pork producers who donate pigs are helping to bridge the gap between prosperity and poverty,” said David Kieser, President, Midwest Food Bank. "They have taken on the challenge of helping others, and they are doing so with a nutritious, high-quality product that is an important addition to our food bank. The donation by the pork, corn, and soybean groups will help us to further our efforts during these difficult economic times.”