Boise, Idaho | April 9, 2020: Through the Beef Counts statewide initiative, Agri Beef donates 16,000 pounds of high-quality beef (equating to 85,000 3oz servings) to The Idaho Foodbank helping to meet their ever-growing need during the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 400 schools and partner agencies in The Idaho Foodbank network, the need has risen by 100% in some communities, and 30-50% across the state in a matter of just a few weeks.

Idaho’s Beef Industry, an essential industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic is the state’s second largest industry. “With more cattle than people in Idaho, beef is a natural solution to the high-quality protein needs for the food insecure. One 3-ounce cooked serving of beef provides about 25 grams of protein, roughly 50% of the daily value, making it a highly concentrated way to support good health.” said T.K. Kuwahara, Chief Executive Officer at the Idaho Beef Council.

Beef Counts is a program designed to provide a consistent supply of high-quality beef protein throughout the year to The Idaho Foodbank. With the support of Idaho’s cattle ranchers along with community fundraising and support from grocery retailers including Albertsons, the program has consistently stepped up to address the challenge for providing high-quality protein, which is often a scarce commodity in the food bank network. As the first program of its kind in the United States, Beef Counts and its partners, the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho CattleWomen Council, Idaho Beef Council and Agri Beef Co., collectively support this innovative program, which provides nutritious beef for hungry Idaho families and ask that others join to assist their cause if they are able.

“As a family-owned business it has always been a priority for us to contribute to the families in our community that need a little help, and that is especially true during hard times like those we are currently facing.” said Jay Theiler, Executive Director of Marketing at Agri Beef. “To date Beef Counts has provided over 1.5 million 3oz servings of beef to families in Idaho.”

To contribute to the Beef Counts program, donations can be made on The Idaho Foodbank website, https://idahofoodbank.org/beef-counts-donation/

About Agri Beef 

Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Agri Beef has grown from a small, family ranching and cattle feeding business into an international benchmark for quality and taste. Since its inception in 1968, Agri Beef has mindfully expanded its operations to include every step of the beef lifecycle, including ranching, cattle feeding, and beef processing. This comprehensive approach has distinguished Agri Beef globally through its four premium brands: Snake River Farms, Double R Ranch, St. Helens, and Rancho El Oro. While Agri Beef has grown to a multi-state operation with global reach, the company still holds true to its family values, western code of ethics, and adheres to the principles of sustainability, total quality, animal wellbeing and responsibility. www.agribeef.com

About the Idaho Beef Council

The Idaho Beef Council (IBC) is a state organization representing Idaho's beef ranchers. As of January 1, 2020, Idaho had 2.49 million head of cattle valued at $2.639 billion, making it the state's second largest agricultural industry behind dairy. IBC was created in 1967 by the Idaho legislature as a marketing organization to increase consumer demand for beef. It is funded by the beef checkoff program - a $1.50 per head assessment on the sale of cattle in Idaho. The funds generated from this are used to support promotion, research and education programs at home and abroad. For more information, visit www.idbeef.org.

About The Idaho Foodbank

The Idaho Foodbank is an independent, donor-supported, nonprofit organization founded in 1984, and is the largest distributor of free food assistance in Idaho. In its 35-year history, The Foodbank has distributed millions of pounds of food through its facilities in Boise, Lewiston, and Pocatello. In the last fiscal year, The Foodbank provided food for nearly 17 million meals to Idahoans in need. The Foodbank distributes food through a network of more than 400 community-based partners including schools, food pantries, senior centers, feeding sites, shelters, and churches. Recognizing the crucial connection between hunger and health, The Idaho Foodbank focuses on healthy food options and partners with community programs to promote nutrition education and healthy living. Visit www.idahofoodbank.org for more information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Media Contact
Melissa Delgadillo
PR Manager
208-338-2500
melissa.delgadillo@agribeef.com