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Springfield, Mo.— Moark, LLC, a Land O’Lakes wholly-owned egg subsidiary, is helping in the fight against hunger by donating more than 72,000 eggs to Ozarks Food Harvest on March, 11 at 9:00 a.m. to help families struggling with food insecurity.

Families continue to struggle to put food on their tables, leading more and more to turn to food assistance organizations across the country for help. In fact, more than 48 million Americans live in food insecure homes.

In the 28 Missouri counties Ozarks Food Harvest serves, one in six adults, and one in four children, are food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal is coming from. The food bank for southwest Missouri feeds 170,000 of these Missouri neighbors in need.

Among the most needed items at food assistance organizations are sources of high quality protein, such as fresh eggs. According to the USDA, one large egg delivers six grams of protein and 13 essential nutrients such as choline, folate, iron and zinc. Additionally, the USDA concluded in 2011 that the average amount of cholesterol was 14 percent lower and vitamin D content was 64 percent higher than previously thought.

“High quality sources of protein, such as nutrient-dense eggs, are especially needed and greatly valued,” said Denise Gibson, development director at Ozarks Food Harvest. “This donation goes a long way for families who often go without nutritious meals. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

“Year-round our generous farmers donate fresh eggs to their local food assistance organizations,” stated Chad Gregory, president and CEO of United Egg Producers. “We come together during the Easter season to give a little extra and make fresh eggs available to food insecure families across the country.”

For the sixth consecutive Easter season, the United Egg Producers have organized a nationwide effort to give food insecure families a helping hand. U.S. egg farmers are donating nine million fresh eggs this year, bringing the total number of fresh eggs donated by egg farmers since 2008 to 69 million. Consumers can also participate in the nationwide effort by going to www.facebook.com/UEPCertified and pledging to buy UEP-certified eggs. For every pledge received, United Egg Producers will donate one carton of eggs to a local food assistance organization.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 250 nonprofit agencies across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes 10 million meals annually to 170,000 unduplicated individuals. OFH celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2013. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.

About United Egg Producers
United Egg Producers (UEP) is the nation’s leading trade association for U.S. egg farmers, representing about 95 percent of U.S. egg production. UEP members produce eggs using various systems including conventional cage production, enriched cages, cage-free, free range, organic and other specialty eggs. UEP is currently asking congress to amend the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments which will provide egg laying hens withmore space and allow them to perform their natural behaviors such as perching, scratching and laying their eggs in a private nest box area. For more information, visit www.uepcertified.com and www.eggbill.com.. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/UEPCertified or follow our updates on Twitter at twitter.com/UEPCertified.