ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 19, 2009

AG COMMISSIONER URGES SHARING ON NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson is urging North Dakotans to celebrate National Agriculture Week by donating food for people in need.

“I can think of no better way to honor our 30,000 family farmers and ranchers than by buying the food they produce and then giving it people who are undergoing tough times,” Johnson said Thursday.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota FFA Foundation are conducting a food drive today, at the State Capitol.

Johnson said food drives are underway in many parts of North Dakota, and that businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to take part.

“The Ryan Potato Co. set an outstanding example for all of us when they gave away 40,000 pounds of potatoes Monday in Grand Forks,” Johnson said. “It should inspire us to see what we can do to help others.”

Other examples include:

• North Dakota Soybean Council: $500 in soybean products.
• North Dakota Canola Growers: one case of regular canola oil and one case of high stability canola oil.
• Ameriflax: 50 pounds of golden, roasted flax.

Johnson also commended the North Dakota Farmers Union for its efforts in its annual “Share the Harvest” program and the North Dakota office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service for  conducting a food drive in Fargo.

“We know that there are many other similar efforts underway, so there’s plenty of opportunity for people to share what they have,” he said.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.