Minnesota Soybean Producers Celebrate Soyfoods Month by Giving to Local Food Shelves

MANKATO, MN (04/15/2009)(readMedia)-- In celebration of Soyfoods Month (April), a number of Minnesota County Soybean Growers Associations, with the cooperation of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, are purchasing shelf-stable soyfoods and other foods with soy ingredients and donating them to their local food shelves.

"At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, we are proud to provide them with good-tasting and healthy products made from the soybeans we grow," said Jeff Schultz, Secretary of the Dakota/Rice County Corn and Soybean Growers Association board.

For years, soy has been linked to many health benefits including increased memory function, prevention of bone loss, reduced risk of heart disease, as well as lowering cholesterol and helping with weight loss. Soybeans are also packed with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and isoflavones, which have antioxidant properties.

"I think this is a great way to provide Minnesota families with the nutrition they need, while exposing them to a variety of new soyfoods," says Barb Overlie, a soybean producer from Lake Crystal and member of the Blue Earth County Soybean Growers Association board, which also participated in food shelf donations.

Local grocery stores are also getting involved by giving discounts to the county soybean associations in an effort to help their dollars go further.

County soybean grower associations that are planning, or have already made donations to food shelves, include Dakota/Rice, Mower, Nicollet/Sibley, Blue Earth, Murray, Lyon, Rock, Watonwan and Olmsted/South Wabasha.

The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is a non-profit, farmer-controlled membership organization established in 1962. Its goal is to assure profitable soybean farming by monitoring government policies and supporting research and market development activities. There are 38 organized soybean grower boards across the state of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council is made up of an elected board of 15 soybean producers from across the state. The mission of the council is to invest soybean checkoff dollars in well-defined research, marketing, education and commercialization programs designed to increase demand and thereby improve the profitability of Minnesota's soybean farmers.