Farmers, food processors and Nationwide help feed the hungry

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COLUMBUS — Mid-Ohio Foodbank is serving 3,557 meals as a result of the “Canstruction” project sponsored by Ohio farmers, food processors and Nationwide Insurance during the recently concluded Ohio State Fair.

The “Canstruction” was a model combine, tractor and wagon built with 3,624 canned food items that was displayed at Ohio Farm Bureau’s Land and Living exhibit at this year’s state fair. It took approximately 12 hours to build the display. Following the fair, the Ohio-produced canned goods were donated to Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

Ohio food processors The Beckman & Gast Co., Campbell Soup Company, The Fremont Company, Hirzel Canning Company & Farms and Keystone Meats contributed the canned foods while financial support came from Nationwide, 84 county Farm Bureaus and Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors viewed the display and learned about the food processing sector of Ohio’s $100 billion-plus agricultural industry. They also learned about hunger in Ohio. The state has the 12th highest ranking for food insecurity in the nation. Latest figures indicate 16 percent of Ohioans are at times unable to access a nutritious diet.

A time-lapse video of the “Canstruction” process is at http://on.fb.me/1N4whiz.

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