The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show is joining forces with Syngenta to collect food items at the show for the Mid-South Food Bank as part of Syngenta’s Weeding Out Hunger campaign.

“Farmers across the Mid-South are invested in food security efforts,” says Tim Price, show manager. “Nearly 50 million Americans — one in six — are food insecure. Mid-South agriculture and American agriculture care deeply about defeating hunger. This effort is an expression of that compassion.”

The South’s premier farm show is a perfect place for this campaign, Price says.

“The displays and exhibits represent ways to enhance productivity that, in turn, results in more food products. Each year farmers look to the companies at the show for the latest technology to improve yield as they continue to supply the world with food, fiber and fuel. The show offers an opportunity to highlight this critical food issue, engage farmers in the effort, and help insure the Mid-South Food Bank has adequate supplies.”

Food collection containers will be placed at all entrances to the trade show, and all items collected will be donated to the Mid-South Food Bank at Memphis (www.midsouthfoodbank.org), which will distribute the donations throughout rural counties in the Mid-South.

Local FFA and 4-H chapters will assist in the collection efforts, and the Weeding Out Hunger campaign will also donate $1,000 to the Mid-South Food Bank.

“Farmers are keenly aware of the needs of the rural counties throughout the Mid-South,” Price says. “They view this campaign as a way to heighten awareness that hunger knows no county or state borders and the importance of helping provide food for those who need it.”

Mid-South Food Bank serves 200 agencies with 285 charitable feeding programs in 31 counties in west Tennessee, north Mississippi and east Arkansas. These agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth programs, rehabilitation centers, residential programs, senior programs and daycares.