Millions of Pounds of Surplus Spuds Donates to Hungry AmericansAmerica's Second Harvest Donations accepted at www.potatoharvest.org to pay transport costs The nation's largest hunger-relief charity, America's Second Harvest, is making a plea to the general public to help transport more than 20 million pounds of Idaho russet potatoes that have been donated from this year's bumper crop by the Potato Management Company (PMC), a growers co-op located in Blackfoot, Idaho. The charity estimates that costs for shipping the estimated 500 truckloads of potatoes will reach over $1 million. The potatoes must be moved in the next 90 days so growers can prepare for next summer's crop. If enough money is raised for the charity to deliver the millions of pounds of potatoes, it will be the largest single food donation in the organization's 21-year history and will benefit thousands of hungry Americans.  America's Second Harvest, a network of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations, is asking Americans to support this 'potato harvest' in an all out effort to make sure that the potatoes donated by Idaho potato growers don't go to waste. The web site www.potatoharvest.org is being launched today and is an easy way for Americans to make a donation to cover the cost of shipping and handling millions of surplus spuds. America's Second Harvest is asking everyone to donate as much as they can, to help in this urgent situation. A $15 donation will pay shipping and handling charges to deliver 250 pounds of russet potatoes. An entire truckload of potatoes - 42,000 pounds - can be delivered for about $2500. "The generosity of the PMC is almost overwhelming. Distributing this much food is a challenge that America's Second Harvest is delighted to accept on behalf of the 31 million people who are at risk of hunger in our nation," said Deborah Leff, president and CEO of America's Second Harvest. This donation will also help to protect the families whose livelihood depends on potato farming. Farmers are currently receiving 1 cent per pound for their crop, while it costs approximately 5 cents per pound to produce potatoes. Unless the surplus is reduced and the market stabilizes, many family farms will be forced out of business this year. To eliminate the surplus, farmers face two choices: dumping the potatoes on fields to act as fertilizer or donating them to charity. "Basically, we've got as many potatoes as America's Second Harvest can use. We'd much rather feed hungry people than let the potatoes go to waste," said John Thompson, communications director at PMC. America's Second Harvest wants to ensure that the farmers' generosity, offered at a time when many of them are facing extreme financial difficulty, can reach as many needy individuals as possible. The charity has already received donations from local and national firms to cover the cost of shipping and handling almost 300 truckloads of potatoes. A partial list of food banks that have received or are awaiting their shipments is attached to this release. America's Second Harvest has also received commitments from growers and packagers to pack the potatoes in 10, 25, and 50 pound bags. Volunteers across the state of Idaho are donating their time to pack and load the potatoes for shipment. Some national donors to the Potato Harvest effort include The Starr Foundation, which has donated $500,000, allowing America's Second Harvest to ship over eight million pounds of potatoes, and Kraft Foods, an original sponsor of America's Second Harvest fresh produce program, which will pay shipping and handling costs for delivery of almost 90 truckloads of potatoes. Kingston Produce donated the cost of processing for the first five truckloads, Outback Steakhouse donated hundreds of 50 pound sacks and C.H. Robinson is providing 300,000 ten-pound bags for packing the potatoes. Because of this year's record crop production, the potato market is saturated, and prices at the wholesale level are at an historical low. The 198 Idaho farmers represented by PMC are taking up to 10 percent of the crop off the market in an effort to raise prices to the levels necessary to ensure a living for potato growers. Potatoes are a particularly good source of many nutrients necessary for good health. One medium potato provides 10 percent of the recommended daily value of protein for children, and 45 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, 21 percent of the daily value for potassium, and three grams of fiber, for adults. Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the hardest foods for low-income families to afford, and America's Second Harvest has worked hard to increase the amount of fresh produce available through its food banks to local agencies serving the hungry. Last fiscal year the organization distributed 36 million pounds or 108 million servings of fresh produce to 128 food banks across the country. Partial List of Food Banks Receiving Potato Shipments Food Banks that have already taken delivery of donated Idaho spuds: West Texas Food Bank; Odessa, Texas Food Banks that will receive donated Idaho potatoes in the next two weeks (tentative) Food Share, Oxnard; Calif.
For more information, or to contact America's Second Harvest, see their website at: www.secondharvest.org |
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