CALF_News_April_May_2021

24 CALF News • April | May 2021 • www.calfnews.net By Faith Baxter Contributing Editor A ccording to Feeding America, a nonprofit network of food banks, 1 in 9 Americans struggle with hunger and food insecurity. While there are national food assistance programs and initiatives, some people still fall through the cracks. Local food assistance programs are able to provide help; however, even with this additional assistance, sometimes certain nutrients are not easily accessible. One of these nutrients is meat protein. Meat is a champion for nutrition, being a complete protein providing essential vitamins and minerals. Recognizing the importance of meat protein, several companies and organizations within the meat indus- try have joined the battle against food insecurity. Cactus Feeders, a leader in beef and pork production, is known for its mis- sion of “Feeding a Hungry World.” This company started in 1975 and now spans six states. Their purpose is to help feed a hungry world through accessibility, sustainability and affordability. While Cactus Feeders as a whole is very aware and active in their movements, they also have a dedicated philanthropic arm called Cactus Cares. Cactus Cares is a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization founded in 2018 by Cactus Feeders. Cactus Cares acts on the Cactus mission of feeding a hungry world, starting with family, friends and neighbors in their communities. The functions of Cactus Cares fall under four categories: hunger relief, scholarships, leadership and renewal. Through all of these areas, Cactus Cares is committed to building strong communities. They collaborate with local foundations and institutions to ensure a more sustainable approach to food assistance. In 2020, Cactus Cares provided meat protein to pop-up pantries in Lubbock, Levelland and Amarillo. These pop-up pantries were an initiative with local food banks partnering with other various agriculture partners to provide more access to differ- ent foods. “That is what Cactus Cares is all about, making the communities where our employees live and work a better place for us all,” says Wayne Craig, Cactus Cares executive director. Also addressing concerns about food insecurity is Agri Beef, a North- west company committed to providing exceptional beef. Some of their most recognizable brands include Snake River Farms, Double R Ranch, St. Helens Beef and Rancho El Oro. Agri Beef ’s Star Commitment is formed on the principles of sustainability, total quality, animal well-being and responsibility. The Beef Counts program, a collab- orative effort of Washington and Idaho cattle operations, falls under their pillar of responsibility. The Beef Counts pro- gram has been able to provide more than 2.4 million servings of beef in Idaho and Washington food banks since 2010. To make this program a reality, Agri Beef partnered with livestock producers in the Northwest, the Idaho Beef Council, the Washington Beef Commission, grocery retailers and local food banks. While Agri Beef is undeniably taking on the responsibility of helping to feed the world, they acknowledge that a huge protein need still exists. “One of the biggest issues local food banks face isn’t necessarily that they don’t get enough food donations, rather that they don’t get enough high-quality protein donations. It’s the quality that matters” says Robert Rebholtz, Jr., Agri Beef president and CEO. “The creation of the Beef Counts program was a direct recognition of this and the realization that we, collectively in the beef industry, working together, were in the best posi- tion to step up and do something about it.” The beef industry is not the only pro- tein source striving to make a difference. The We Care Initiative is a joint effort of the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council and state pork organizations that was established in 2008. The We Care Initiative is built on six ethical principles: food safety, animal H EROES AMONG US Caring is Sharing Addressing Food Insecurity with Meat Protein Continued on page 36 