Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, announced a $3 million grant from Cargill to provide children and families with nutrition solutions. This three year gift will help food banks provide nourishing meals to people in need by increasing access to fruits and vegetables, providing nutrition education, investing in a diabetes prevention pilot program and funding food safety measures to ensure the highest qualities of food distribution.

One in eight people in America struggle with hunger, including 13 million children.

In Feeding America's research Hunger in America 2014, people served by the Feeding America network identified fresh fruit and vegetables as the most desired category. At the same time, six billion pounds of produce are lost each year. Cargill's funding will help Feeding America establish regional cooperative produce mixing centers that source and distribute produce for local food banks in order to drive down cost and provide a greater variety of produce throughout the year.

Additionally, Cargill is supporting a diabetes prevention pilot that will help to increase the understanding of the role of food bank programs in improving health outcomes for people living with nutrition-related chronic diseases. Evidence from this pilot will be used to design and implement health interventions.

"Hunger is an issue in every community.  Feeding America is thankful to Cargill for its generous support of programs and initiatives that help to provide nourishing food to children and families who may not know where they find their next meal," said Diana Aviv, CEO at Feeding America.

Cargill is a longstanding partner in the fight to end hunger. For 30 years, Cargill has provided financial, volunteer and leadership support in the areas of food safety, product donations and produce capture.  Cargill's current investment aligns with its commitment to nourish people in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.

"Cargill is working to improve nutrition around the world and in the communities where we live and work. Our employees value our partnership with Feeding America because they can see firsthand the impact it makes in their local communities," said Michelle Grogg, senior director of corporate responsibility for Cargill. "As Feeding America strives to close the meal gap in America, we are proud to invest in their innovative solutions."

The Feeding America nationwide network of food banks provides more meals to children, families and seniors than any other domestic hunger-relief organization: four billion meals each year.  For more information about Feeding America, visit: www.feedingamerica.org.

Source: Feeding America