100 low-income Twin Cities suburbanites who told legislators their stories during a daylong “listening tour” by the Legislative Commission to End Poverty.

Star Tribune

Minnesota had 8.2 percent of people living in households struggling with hunger or “food insecure” from 2004-06, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual report released today. Food insecurity is the USDA term given to describe households that struggled with affording enough food.

A consortium of Twin Cities nonprofits say they have a plan to end hunger in the metro area in the next five years. How will it work?

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REGISTER NOW FOR THE NOVEMBER 8, 2007 HUNGER LEARNING SERIES!

Every segment of our society must become engaged in solving hunger in Minnesota.

The annual fall conference on November 8, 2007, will engage leaders, staff, and volunteers from organizations within the emergency food system, local and state legislators and policymakers, leaders of faith-based organizations, the business community, private charities and foundations, and the public at large in building the community will to end hunger in Minnesota.

November 8, 2007: Creating the Community Will to End Hunger in Minnesota

Minnesota ’s legislators passed a bill aimed at ending hunger by creating a program to allow hunters to donate processed deer to feed people in need.

The Minnesota Hunter Harvested Venison Donation Program allows Minnesota deer hunters to donate deer carcasses to food banks, food shelves and feeding programs. Hunters must have their deer processed at a Minnesota Department of Agriculture-registered meat processing plant who has agreed to participate in the program.

This program, which is a cooperative effort between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), provides an excellent source of protein to people in need while helping reduce local deer populations.

Northside Food Project, a non-profit group dedicated to increasing access to fresh produce in North Minneapolis. The group also promotes healthy nutrition by holding cooking classes for children and adults

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With some food prices rising 7 to 33 percent in June, including staples such as milk, bread and eggs, some consumers are finding new discounters and rediscovering old outlets.

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