The Fight Against Hunger

The Fight Against Hunger. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

To help celebrate June as dairy month, a contest of sorts is underway with a goal of raising 100-thousand dollars and 100-thousand pounds of food before July. Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba will help kick off the month-long campaign.

COBA:  It’s a friendly competition between the states of Oregon and Washington. My counterpart in Washington, Director Bud Hover, and myself see this as a great way to raise the profile of hunger and raise the profile of all of the good things that agriculture in our respective states are doing to try to alleviate hunger.

The campaign, “Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger,” started as an idea of the Oregon and Washington Dairy Products Commissions but has quickly picked up some enthusiastic partners who have always come forward to help address hunger issues.

COBA:  Absolutely. We’ve got commissions, we have producers, we have processors who have historically been very active in food donations to food banks.

Fred Meyer stores in Oregon and Washington are helping to promote the month long event and will be collecting food donations. Food assistance organizations in both states, including Oregon Food Bank, will help distribute the donations. Meanwhile, bragging rights and a trophy will go to the state that raises the most.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.