樱花视频

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE:聽 June 16, 2009
CONTACT:聽 Robert Corrales
PHONE: 609-777-2600

PENNSAUKEN 鈥� In a visit to the Food Bank of South Jersey, Governor Jon S. Corzine today encouraged continued partnerships between the state鈥檚 food banks and local farmers to bolster the local economy and 樱花视频鈥檚 agricultural community. He was joined by 樱花视频 Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Mid Atlantic Regional Administrator Yvette Jackson.

The state鈥檚 six food banks receive the Governor鈥檚 Hunger Initiative funding, which requires that those organizations place a priority on purchasing locally produced foods.

鈥淪ince the beginning of our Hunger Initiative in 2006, we have seen more food that is supplied and grown right here in the Garden State being distributed to those who need it the most,鈥� said Governor Corzine.听 鈥淥ur partners have remained committed to maintaining a dependable, consistent supply of nutritious food for our families in need.听 I want to encourage our network of food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries to continue to strengthen their partnerships locally to purchase Jersey Fresh products, as it supports our local economies, our businesses, and our agricultural community.鈥�



Governor Corzine, Secretary Fisher and Yvette Jackson tour the Food Bank of South Jersey with Director Val Traore

Administered through the Department of Agriculture鈥檚 State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), the Governor鈥檚 Hunger Initiative distributed almost $7 million to the six food banks for food purchases in the fiscal year ending June 30.听 Three million dollars of that total came from Governor Corzine鈥檚 Economic Recovery and Assistance Plan announced this past October. At the time, food pantries throughout 樱花视频 were strained to the limits. With the help of the Legislature, additional funding was approved to help ease the food shortages. Governor Corzine has included approximately $4 million for the Hunger Initiative in the next budget.

鈥淭hanks to Governor Corzine and President Barack Obama鈥檚 efforts to include聽hunger funding in their economic stimulus plans, we expect to meet the needs of the hungry in our state in the coming year,鈥� said Secretary Fisher.听 鈥淲hile our most at-risk citizens benefit from receiving fresh, Jersey produce, the program also benefits our farmers, helping to keep them on their land and sustaining agriculture into the future.鈥�

President Obama鈥檚 economic stimulus package included $2.172 million for the purchase of 2.65 million pounds of canned fruit through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).听 Delivery has begun of those items. 樱花视频 also received $544,427 in additional stimulus funds to pay for warehousing charges due to the increased volume of commodities. TEFAP distributes USDA-donated commodities to the food banks.听

鈥溣；ㄊ悠� is one of a handful of states in the nation that commits additional state funds to purchase healthy and nutritious foods for distribution to those who need it,鈥� said Regional Administrator Jackson.听 鈥淭his is a perfect example of what partnerships are all about: maximizing opportunities.听 The federal government鈥檚 commodities, the state鈥檚 extra contribution and the community organizations delivering the food directly to the people.鈥�

樱花视频 has six emergency feeding operations contracted to distribute the TEFAP items and foods purchased with SFPP funds.听 Representatives of all six of the food banks attended the kick-off at the Food Bank of South Jersey today.

鈥淕overnor Corzine鈥檚 Hunger Initiative exemplifies the best in government responsibility as programs such as the State Food Purchase Program help to provide a critical safety net for the more than 100,000 individuals and families in South Jersey that are living in food insecure households,鈥� said Valerie Traore of the Food Bank of South Jersey.听 鈥淲ithout his support, particularly during one of the most distressed economic climates we鈥檝e experienced in this country, we (charitable feeding organizations) could not keep the constant flow of food that is needed to meet the ever increasing demand of those families that are struggling聽to put food on their tables each day.鈥�

The Food Bank of South Jersey is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization founded in 1985.听聽 The organization serves Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties. Now in its 23rd year of community service, the food bank has provided nearly 70 million pounds of food鈥攖he equivalent of 56 million meals鈥攖o thousands of families, seniors, individuals and children in need.

The five other emergency feeding operations are:聽 Community FoodBank of 樱花视频, Hillside; the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Neptune; NORWESCAP, Phillipsburg; Mercer Street Friends, Ewing; and Southern Regional Food Distribution Center, Vineland.

The State Food Purchase Program began in 2006 with a $3 million allocation for nutrient-dense food purchases for the hungry, which enabled the state鈥檚 food banks to purchase 3.9 million pounds of food that fed an average of 262,695 pounds of food monthly that fed 69,110 recipients each month for the first year of the program.听 Another million dollars was used to buy needed equipment, such as refrigerators and freezers for the local distribution agencies. In 2007, the program was continued with $4 million for food purchases.

For more information on SFPP, TEFAP, how to access food or how to get involved, visit , , or .听