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Salmon And More; Food Aid Menu Grows As Industry Expands

A nutrition packed cake produced by Survivor Industry, Inc. on display at the International Food Aid and Development Conference. Photo by Laura Ziegler

By Laura Ziegler

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-975758.mp3

Kansas City, Missouri – When the U.S. food aid program began in 1954, known as The Agricultural Trade Development Assistance Act, the country had a vast surplus of farm commodities.

The aim of the program was to expand export markets, but also to help American farmers by diminishing surpluses.

Today, the United States doesn't have those surpluses. Food-aid has become a much more complicated system, with more variety and participants.

The state of Alaska is trying to market salmon as food aid - canned or in powdered form. The Idaho Potato Board would like to sell dehydrated potato flakes.

These foods, and more, were on display this week at The International Food Aid and Development Conference in Kansas City.

As Kansas City grows and diversifies, journalists need to listen to the people, to your challenges and successes..As engagement and solutions editor, I’ll make sure we’re framing stories based on what we hear from you, and we’ll partner with communities so our stories help us understand and connect to one another. Email me at lauraz@kcur.org.
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