VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND AGRICULTURE SECRETARY GLICKMAN KICK OFF FIRST-EVER
NATIONAL FOOD RECOVERY AND GLEANING SUMMIT; ISSUE NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION


                                              Release No. 0316.97

                                      Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
                                     Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                           laura.trivers@usda.gov

VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND AGRICULTURE SECRETARY GLICKMAN KICK OFF FIRST-EVER
NATIONAL FOOD RECOVERY AND GLEANING SUMMIT; ISSUE NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 1997--Vice President Al Gore and Agriculture
Secretary Dan Glickman kicked off the first National Food Recovery and
Gleaning Summit today, announcing an ambitious new goal for getting
previously wasted food to the hungry.

     The Vice President also announced the results of a major report on
hunger in America, the most comprehensive effort ever undertaken to measure
food security. 

     The USDA report released today shows that 12 million American
households experienced some food insecurity -- defined as the limited or
uncertain access to enough food. Of those, 4 million reported moderate or
severe hunger. Based on data gathered as part of the April 1995 Census
Bureau survey, it is the first of a series of annual reports, and will be a
critical benchmark in the future for evaluating hunger and nutrition
assistance programs.

     "This report shows that there are millions of Americans who are simply
not getting enough to eat," the Vice President said. "I am pleased to be
able to announce the start of a national plan to increase by 33 percent the
amount of food recovered each year. When we reach our goal, we will be able
to use that recovered food to feed 450,000 people each day for a year."

     A recent USDA food waste study found that the nation wastes more than
96 billion pounds of food each year.

     USDA is sponsoring the Summit with four leading anti-hunger
organizations: Second Harvest, The Congressional Hunger Center, Foodchain,
and The Chef and The Child Foundation.

     "We know the government's food programs work, and that they will
continue to be the first and strongest line of defense against hunger,"
Secretary Glickman said. "But we can all do more.  Every American can help,
whether it's donating your own canned goods to a soup kitchen, or
encouraging your favorite restaurant to recover food, or sharing your time
with local food recovery projects." 

     Hundreds of people already active in the fight against hunger, along
with others interested in learning more, attended the Summit. They included
representatives from restaurants, transportation companies, food banks,
community organizations, and religious groups.  Recording artists Peter,
Paul, and Mary performed for the Summit audience.

                              -more-


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     The Summit was broadcast across the nation to more than 100 downlink
sites.

     Gore and Glickman also announced new efforts to recover and glean
previously wasted food, including:

-    A new Public Service Announcement on food recovery featuring popular
     musicians Peter, Paul and Mary and Secretary Glickman;

-    A way to speed up the distribution of millions of pounds of food from
     the Department of Defense to states for emergency food programs.

-    A plan by the National Restaurant Association to produce and
     distribute a guide to its members on how to become part of the food
     recovery "food chain."

-    A new USDA-led public-private field gleaning program that will be in
     place in 13 states by the Summer of 1998;

-    Increasing the role of young volunteers in food recovery by joining
     with 4-H, Rock & Wrap it Up!, The National Student Campaign Against
     Hunger and Homelessness to produce a guide on food recovery geared to
     students.

     Glickman also announced the donation to food banks in communities
across the country of more than 128,000 pounds of food collected by USDA
employees in a 10-day Department-wide food drive.  In addition, USDA
employees and volunteers gleaned for donation over 380,000 pounds of fresh
produce during the first two weeks of September.

     Following the morning program, the attendees took part in food
recovery community service projects:  gleaning fields at Parker Farms in
Clinton, Maryland; preparing meals at the D.C. Central Kitchen; sorting food
at the Capital Area Community Food Bank; and serving meals at Martha's Table
in D.C.

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