Glickman Announces Summit, Action Plan for Community Food Security Initiative
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0325.99
                                                               
                    Media Contact: Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                         laura.trivers@usda.gov
                   Public Contact: Janna Paschal (202) 720-5402
                                         janna.paschal@usda.gov

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES SUMMIT, ACTION PLAN FOR COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE

     WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 1999  In remarks today to the national anti-hunger
organization Share Our Strength, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman unveiled a
detailed plan of action for the USDA Community Food Security Initiative,
including the announcement of the first-ever National CFS Summit, and the
naming of CFS Liaisons in all 50 states.

     The Initiative, launched in February, seeks to cut domestic hunger in
half by the year 2015 through USDA partnerships with states, municipalities,
nonprofit groups, and the private sector that strengthen local food systems.

     "I want people to see this summit as a way to make government
involvement in fighting hunger more effective through cooperative efforts with
communities,"Glickman said. "Just because government isn't the only answer
doesn't mean government is not an important part of the solution.  It most
certainly is.   I want to see communities become more adept at utilizing
governments vast resources and extensive programs to further food security
goals."

     The National Summit on Community Food Security: Building Partnerships to
End Hunger, will be held on October 15 in conjunction with the World Food Day
observance, will take place at central site in Chicago, and will be broadcast
by satellite to downlink sites around the country.  The Summit will both
highlight existing best practices already working to bolster food security, as
well as mobilize new commitments to fight hunger from all sectors of society.

     "Together, we can conquer hunger in America," Glickman said.  "And with
a Community Food Security Liaison--a USDA employee in each state, we will be
there to help you."

  Glickman said that the new Community Food Security Liaisons will provide
"one-stop-shopping" for nonprofit groups and citizens who need to utilize USDA
resources to bolster local food security efforts.

  The Community Food Security Action Plan has as its primary goals:
catalyzing the creation of new and expanding the capacity of existing local
infrastructures; increasing economic and job security; strengthening the
federal nutrition assistance safety net; improving community food production
and marketing; bolstering supplemental food provided by nonprofit groups;
boosting education and awareness; and improving research, monitoring, and
evaluation.

  Earlier today, USDA's Risk Management Agency announced new guidelines to
encourage farmers covered under federal crop insurance programs to glean and
donate to charitable organizations field crops that would otherwise go unused
or be destroyed.

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