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OFH receives donation from Moark, LLC, Land O’Lakes’ wholly owned egg subsidiary

OFH receives donation from Moark, LLC, Land O’Lakes’ wholly owned egg subsidiary

March 21, 2012

Egg farmers nationwide to donate nearly 10 million eggs to Feeding America food banks this Easter

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Moark, LLC, Land O’Lakes’ wholly-owned egg subsidiary, is donating 4,500 cartons of eggs—or 54,000 eggs—to Ozarks Food Harvest at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 26 at The Food Bank, 2810 N. Cedarbook Ave.

The donation is part of a national effort organized by the United Egg Producers and Feeding America. For the fifth consecutive spring, America’s egg farmers are giving the Easter Bunny and families in need, a helping hand by donating nearly 10 million fresh eggs, bringing the number of eggs U.S. farmers have contributed to food banks since 2008 to 60 million, or nearly five million cartons.

Ozarks Food Harvest officials say despite signs of economic recovery, record numbers of families in southwest Missouri are currently relying on food assistance. Since moving into its new facility, the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief, in 2009, The Food Bank has increased distribution by 59 percent across its 28-county service area. Ozarks Food Harvest now distributes 12 million pounds of food annually via its direct service programs and its network of 250 member agencies.

“High quality sources of protein, such as nutrient-dense eggs, are especially needed and greatly valued,” said Bart Brown, president/CEO at Ozarks Food Harvest. “Counties within our service area have some of the highest poverty rates in the state, and several also have some of the highest childhood food insecurity rates, so we sincerely appreciate this donation. It will go a long way.”

According to the USDA, one large egg delivers six grams of protein, along with 13 essential nutrients. After a review of the nutrient composition of standard large eggs last year, the USDA concluded that the average amount of cholesterol was 14 percent lower, and vitamin D content was 64 percent higher, than previously measured.

“If you’ve ever met an egg farmer, you know just how incredibly generous and giving these men and women are,” said Gene Gregory, president of United Egg Producers. “All year long, but especially at Easter, they proudly do what they can to support the communities in which they live and work.”

Moark’s egg donation is Land O’Lakes’ 33rd donation in the First Run program. As part of the First Run program, Land O’Lakes has committed to donating truckloads of fresh product to food banks each quarter to help alleviate hunger nationwide.

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About United Egg Producers
United Egg Producers (UEP) is the nation’s leading trade association for U.S. egg farmers, representing nearly 90 percent of U.S. egg farmers, whose members produce eggs including modern cage production, cage-free, free range, organic and other specialty eggs. UEP is based in Alpharetta, GA. To learn more about the egg industry go to uepcertified.com, facebook.com/UEPCertified or twitter.com/UEPCertified.

About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, its network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information go to feedingamerica.org, facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About Ozarks Food Harvest
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 250 hunger relief organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes 12 million pounds of food annually to 170,000 unduplicated individuals. OFH was named the 2011 Small Business of the Year by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and its facility, the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief, recently received a Superior AIB International Food Safety Rating. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.