FARM FRESH FOOD FROM THE FLATBED DRIVE: IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WEEK / DAY COLORADO SHARES ITS BOUNTY WITH THOSE IN NEED

The Colorado Agriculture Council celebrated National Agriculture Week /Day today by spotlighting agriculture’s value to Colorado’s economy and sharing its bounty with those in need.

Together with Colorado Department of Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp and State legislators, the Colorado Agriculture Council held a news conference on the West steps of the Colorado State Capitol to recognize the week / day. The news conference was preceded by a “Farm Fresh Food from the Flatbed” drive.

A flatbed truck – a visual display of Colorado agricultural bounty – served as a traveling sandwich line from which industry volunteers provided food to those in need. The drive began at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver where the volunteers made sandwiches to be served to seriously ill children and their families. Next the truck traveled to The Gathering Place to deliver additional sandwiches to those in need. The drive culminated at the Capitol where lunch was provided for legislators, legislative staff and volunteers.

"Colorado's farmers and ranchers contribute greatly to our way of life by providing affordable, safe and abundant food and fiber while protecting our natural resources," said Commissioner Stulp. "Colorado's diverse agriculture and food industry is a large part of our great state's economy generating approximately $20 billion annually and supporting more than 108,000 jobs."

“Agriculture is America’s number one export and many Americans are unaware of that,” said Terry Tormohlen, a Colorado egg farmer. “The industry not only creates thousands of jobs but also supplies new developments in technology and provides higher quality food at a lower cost to the consumer. It is truly an industry that encompasses everything American and is an industry I’m proud to be a part of.”

In addition to educating Coloradans about the importance of agriculture, the Colorado Agriculture Council’s mission during this week was to give back to the community.
“In Colorado, 1 in 8 people struggle to put food on the table and nearly half are children,” said Jerry Wilkins, chair of the Colorado Agriculture Council. “The Council and industry have come together this year to share our bounty and make a difference in the lives of those in need.”

The Council and other friends of agriculture provided more than 500 sandwiches made with local, farm fresh ingredients to people and families in need and also presented a donation of $51,000 worth of food and cash to Food Bank of the Rockies. The donation includes 130,000 eggs from the Colorado Egg Producers Association and 48,000 pounds of flour from the Colorado Association of Wheat Growers.

“We are so thankful to the Colorado Agriculture Council for their wonderful donation,” said Kevin Seggelke, Food Bank of the Rockies President and CEO. “Generous donations like this allow us to distribute nutritious food to more than 1100 hunger-relief programs in Metro Denver, Northern Colorado and Wyoming. In fact, today’s donation will provide more than a quarter million meals to those in need.”
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National Agriculture Week / Day:
The week of March 14th, 2010 recognizes American agriculture and the contributions of the farmers and ranchers. Focused on sharing how agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear, the National Agriculture Week program helps educate millions of consumers each year. National Agriculture Day is March 20, 2010. However, in Colorado, the day was celebrated on
March 17, 2010.

Members of the Colorado Agriculture Council include:
Colorado Apple Administrative Committee, Colorado Aquaculture Association, Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, Colorado Association of Wheat Growers, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado CattleWomen, Inc., Colorado Cooperative Council, Colorado Corn Growers Association, Colorado Dairy Farmers PAT/PAC, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Egg Producers Association, Colorado Elk Breeders Association, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, Colorado Future Farmers of America Association, Colorado Horse Council, Colorado Livestock Association, Colorado Onion Association, Colorado Pork Producers Council, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee – Area II, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee – Area III, Colorado State Grange, Colorado State University, Colorado Sugarbeet Growers, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, Colorado Wool Growers Association, Green Industries of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association.