Farmland Announces $20,000 Donation To Tarrant Area Food Bank As Part Of Expanding Helping Hungry Homes Initiative

FT. WORTH, Texas, Nov. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmland has announced a $20,000 donation to Tarrant Area Food Bank serving Ft. Worth, Texas, as part of an expanding effort by the company to raise awareness of hunger issues around the country. Today's announcement follows more than $215,000 in donations in Phoenix; Las Vegas; Fontana, Calif.; Sonoma, Calif.; and Kansas City, Mo., earlier this year as part of Farmland's partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports to promote hunger awareness in race communities.

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In addition to the $20,000, 43 cases of Hickory Smoked Bacon were donated in honor of the legendary No. 43 Ford made famous by Richard Petty. The bacon donation will help to ensure families, children and seniors in the Ft. Worth area have access to much-needed protein. 

"At Farmland, we want to take every measure we can to combat hunger just like our partners at local food banks," said Brendan Smith, Senior Vice President of Marketing. "In the area served by Tarrant Area Food Bank, one in six individuals faces hunger. We are grateful that we're able to expand our work with Richard Petty Motorsports and partner with Tarrant Area Food Bank to provide more than 100,000 meals to Ft. Worth families in need."

Farmland is raising awareness about hunger issues in a growing number of communities in conjunction with race weekends for the famous No. 43 car, and in partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports.

"Our team is proud to partner with Farmland in fighting hunger and help make a difference for the hungry families in Ft. Worth," said Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 43 Ford.  "Communities across the country are facing a growing hunger challenge, and we are excited to kick off race weekend by partnering with Farmland to make a difference in Ft. Worth."

Earlier this year, as part of this growing effort, Farmland donated $20,000 and 43 cases of protein to St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix, Ariz.; Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas; Harvesters – The Community Food Network in Kansas City, Mo; Second Harvest Food Bank serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, Calif; and Redwood Empire Food Bank in Sonoma, Calif. As part of Farmland's Bacon a Difference program in Kansas City, the company donated an additional $115,000 to Harvesters – The Community Food Network. Together with today's donation, Farmland has donated over $235,000 to local area food banks to help provide more than ONE million meals in these six communities.

In fiscal year 2012, Helping Hungry Homes provided 6.9 million food servings through school nutrition programs, food banks, disaster relief and community outreach efforts. Helping Hungry Homes is an initiative of Smithfield Foods, parent company of the Farmland brand.

"Farmland understands the importance of answering the question, 'What's for dinner tonight?' Their generous donation of food for the center-of-the-plate means that families in need throughout our community will have a well-balanced and nutritious meal," said Bo Soderbergh, executive director of Tarrant Area Food Bank. "The fact that Farmland Foods takes their generosity on the road means that they are winners both on the track, and in every community in which they race. This year, more than any year in the history of our food bank, families are desperately in need of help heading into the holidays. On behalf of more than 150,000 people who seek food assistance from Tarrant Area Food Bank each year, we welcome Farmland Foods to Ft. Worth."

About Smithfield-Farmland
In August 2013, two Smithfield Foods subsidiaries, The Smithfield Packing Company and Farmland Foods, realigned to form the Smithfield-Farmland Packaged Food Group, and Smithfield-Farmland Fresh Meat Group. This union brought together two leading pork suppliers, both known for their high-quality retail and foodservice offerings in the United States and abroad across a variety of Fresh and Packaged categories. In addition to the Smithfield and Farmland brands, the company's Gwaltney and Cook's products are among the leaders in their respective markets. For more information, visit http://www.Smithfield.com and http://www.FarmlandFoods.com. 

About Tarrant Area Food Bank
Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB), a private nonprofit, is the primary source of donated food for hunger-relief charities in 13 north Texas counties. Last fiscal year, TAFB provided those charities with over 26 million meals worth of perishable and nonperishable food.  The Food Bank also offers feeding programs for children and seniors, nutrition education, culinary job training and community gardening expertise. Founded in 1982, TAFB is a member of Feeding America and of Texas Food Bank Network. Learn more at www.tafb.org and on Facebook and Twitter @TAFoodBank.

About Richard Petty Motorsports
Richard Petty Motorsports (www.richardpettymotorsports.com), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force and STP, and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with primary partner Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.

SOURCE Farmland Foods