Gipson announces new food initiative between Mississippi farmers, food banks – Daily Leader

JACKSON – Immediately, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson introduced a brand new native meals initiative between Mississippi farmers and meals banks on the Mississippi Meals Community in Jackson. 

Commissioner Gipson was joined by Dr. Charles Beady, Jr., CEO of the Mississippi Meals Community; Michael Ledger, CEO and President of Feeding the Gulf Coast; and Cathy Pope, CEO and President of Mid-South Meals Financial institution. 

The Mississippi Division of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) was awarded $2.82 million by way of a Native Meals Buy Help Cooperative Settlement with the USA Division of Agriculture. 

Via this initiative, meals can be procured from native farmers and meals producers, together with socially deprived farmers and processors, and distributed to underserved communities all through the state. 

MDAC is partnering with the Mississippi Meals Community, Feeding the Gulf Coast and Mid-South Meals Financial institution, three Feeding America affiliated meals banks, to obtain and distribute the native meals by way of their networks of present and new company companions. 

MDAC is growing a listing of native farmers and meals processors for the meals banks to make the most of to seek out native Mississippi meals merchandise. 

Commissioner Gipson encourages farmers and different meals producers and processors which might be all for probably advertising and marketing their merchandise by way of this program to go to www.mdac.ms.gov/msfp/ to register their farm or enterprise within the listing. Sorts of eligible meals objects embody, however aren’t restricted to, recent vegetables and fruit, dairy merchandise, meat merchandise, rice, eggs, value-added processed meals and drinks. 

“MDAC is proud to accomplice with the three Feeding America affiliated meals banks in our nice state – Mississippi Meals Community, Feeding the Gulf Coast and Mid-South Meals Financial institution,” stated Commissioner Gipson. “This distinctive partnership permits us to assist our native Mississippi farmers and meals producers, whereas benefiting folks in want all through underserved communities in Mississippi. This initiative is only the start of a long-term partnership that can final nicely past this preliminary spherical of funding as it can proceed to develop and broaden advertising and marketing alternatives for producers statewide. I encourage our Mississippi farmers and meals producers all for probably advertising and marketing merchandise by way of this program to go surfing and register to be included within the native meals supply listing.”