Business partnership fights hunger with 4,000 pounds of beef

Fergus, Ontario, February 1, 2006 – A unique partnership between a Crown corporation, a member-owned co-op and a privately owned business is fighting hunger in rural Ontario with about 1,850 kilograms (4,000 pounds) of beef this month.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC), Gencor Foods Inc. (GFI) and TMF: The Meat Factory (TMF) are delivering fully cooked roast beef au jus – enough for 16,000 hot sandwiches – to eight food banks in Chatham, Tillsonburg, Fergus, Stratford, Wingham, Alliston, Winchester and New Liskeard.

“It’s the partnership, companies coming together, that makes this so much more than a donation,” says Dan Bergen, FCC Vice-President, Western Ontario Operations. “When companies connect and commit to making a difference together, the possibilities are endless.”

The donation – with a retail value of $36,000 - is unique since FCC purchased the cattle, Gencor provided initial processing and TMF provided processing, final preparation, cooking and packaging. As a result, food banks will be able to provide fully cooked, high protein meat.

“Gencor is delighted to help leverage the collective strength of our partnership to provide families in Ontario with hot nutritious meals,” says Steve Weber, Sales and Marketing Manager of Gencor Foods Inc. “We encourage other businesses to work with their partners and provide more protein variety to Ontario Food Banks.”

The commitment to provide families with high quality protein this winter, the second donation since October 2005, is in response to the urgent need for food in rural communities.

“We are proud to participate in this partnership to supply food products to those in need.  Donations of this type will continue as the need exists in our province,” says Andrew Thomson, President of The Meat Factory.

FCC is Canada’s largest provider of business and financial solutions to farms and agribusiness. Operating out of 100 offices located primarily in rural Canada, FCC's employees are passionate about the business of agriculture. A healthy portfolio of $11 billion and 12 consecutive years of portfolio growth are a reflection of its customers' success.

Gencor Foods Inc. is a producer-owned cattle slaughter and primary food processor located in Kitchener.

TMF has been serving up award-winning fresh and fully prepared meats for more than 25 years to restaurants and retail customers through key brands that include Lou’s Fully Cooked Restaurant-Style Entrées, Limited Edition and Peameal Bacon of Canada.

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For more information, please contact:

Leanna Jenkins
Farm Credit Canada (English)
Communication Consultant
(306) 780-6987

Mireille Bilodeau VongPhit
Farm Credit Canada (Bilingual)
Communication Consultant
(306) 780-8630