MANDAN, N.D. (KFGO-AM) North Dakota's agriculture commissioner says a state food initiative has donated more than 1 million pounds of produce to charity in the last five years.
Commissioner Doug Goehring announced Friday that the Hunger Free ND Garden Project donated more than 1 million pounds of produce to food pantries, soup kitchens and other programs since it started in 2010.
Goehring made the announcement at the 11th annual Local Foods Conference in Mandan. The event is hosted by the department and the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association.
The Hunger Free ND Garden Project was started through the local foods initiative of the department along with the Great Plains Food Bank.
The statewide project encourages home gardeners and commercial growers to plant extra produce each year to donate.