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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. John Myers |
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Myers bill would clear path for surplus food donations
HARRISBURG, Nov. 18 – State Rep. John Myers, D-Phila., today announced he is preparing to introduce legislation to encourage donations to food banks by farmers and food processors.
While Pennsylvania is a national leader agricultural production and food processing, Myers said nearly 1.2 million residents, about 10 percent of the state's population, live in households at risk for hunger due to disability, job loss or other financial adversity.
Under the Myers legislation, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System Act, the Department of Agriculture would identify in-state farmers, processors and packers willing to donate surplus food and develop a cost-effective mechanism for delivery of those products to maximize freshness. The PASS program would encourage donations through strategies such as reimbursement for services to prepare the goods for transportation and distribution to programs that assist low-income families in meeting their nutritional needs.
"Our concern is not only that all Pennsylvanians have enough to eat, but that the food is nutritious," Myers said. "Proper levels of vitamins, minerals and fiber, not just food volume, are essential to a person's well-being.
"By having fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods available to low-income families, we can head off diet-related illnesses and medical conditions, including diabetes and obesity, and lower health-care costs. Everybody would win under the PASS surplus food donation program."
As a member of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, Myers has actively promoted initiatives to make more fresh produce available in inner-city markets and has been a long-time supporter of community food pantry, food bank and soup kitchen programs.
His office at 5847 Germantown Ave. in Philadelphia is currently accepting donations of non-perishable food items that will be given to nutrition assistance programs.
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