NEW REPORT TO HELP BOOST DONATIONS FROM FARMERS' MARKETS
                                           Release No. 0105.00 
                                                               
                                                               
            Media Contact:  Mary Beth Schultheis( 202) 720-4623
                                  mary_beth.schultheis@usda.gov
             Public Contact:    Charlene Price  (202)  694-5384
                                            ccprice@econ.ag.gov

NEW REPORT TO HELP BOOST DONATIONS FROM FARMERS' MARKETS

     WASHINGTON, March 31, 2000 Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
released 
a new outreach tool in his campaign to help communities across America end
hunger.  A new report, Increasing Food Recovery From Farmers' Markets, will
help some of the nation's largest emergency food organizations locate regional
farmers' markets able to donate food. 

     "This report delivers on our commitment to strengthen the nation's
gleaning and food recovery system by providing links for better communication
and greater food exchanges to feed more people," said Glickman.

     The report geographically matches 28 food recovery organizations with
farmers' markets through the use of geographic information system (GIS)
technology. GIS is a computer-based tool that integrates common database
operations with the visual and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. 

Among the report's findings are:

     þ    Nine states (CA, CT, IL, IN, MA, MD, NJ, NY, VA) and the District of
     Columbia have at least one food recovery organization with at least 39
     farmers' markets within a 30-mile radius.

     þ    Among metropolitan areas, Los Angeles and New York have the most food
     recovery organizations (6) with at least 39 farmers' markets within a
     30-mile radius. 

     þ    The food recovery organizations with the most farmers' markets (94)
     within a 30-mile radius are both in the New York City area. 

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Note to Editors: More information on USDA gleaning and food recovery efforts
can be accessed on the web at  www.fns.usda.gov/fns/menu/gleaning/recover.htm
or www.econ.ag.gov/whatsnew/issues/foodloss/.