A total of 6,259 pounds of meat and poultry were donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and the Isaiah 58 Outreach Ministry of Belmont Church by exhibitors at the Annual Meat Conference, an event hosted by the American Meat Institute and Food Marketing Institute at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville on February 24–26.
The packages of steak, ground beef, pork, turkey, chicken, lamb and other cuts were highlighted during the conference’s product tasting reception which featured nearly 40 exhibitors, many of whom were able to donate their meat that was not used at the reception. Leaders at the Second Harvest Food Bank and Isaiah 58 noted that this was the largest single donation on record.
"The American Meat Institute has a twenty-five-year partnership with our nation's food banks called 'Meating the Need' through which our member companies donate meat and poultry products," said American Meat Institute President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle. "We are pleased to have continued this initiative with a large donation here in Nashville."
Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute, said, “The food retail industry‘s proud tradition of community involvement is demonstrated in the near-universal supermarket support of local food banks and feeding programs. We are delighted to have our conference share in the neighborly spirit of food retailing, as reflected in this record-setting donation to the good work of Second Harvest Food Bank and the Isaiah 58 Outreach Ministry.”
Annual Meat Conference exhibitors have donated thousands of pounds of meat and poultry to host communities over the years, including more than 7,000 pounds in Orlando in 2012. AMI and its members have also donated millions of pounds of meat through its partnership with Feeding America since 1989.
