Untapped market for state growers?

Farmers and ranchers, and groups that help the hungry, could form a natural alliance that would benefit all of them, speakers at a conference titled "Food, Farms and People" said Wednesday.

"It would be good for our state, the state that we love so much, if more of the food produced in Montana were processed and consumed in Montana," said Hank Hudson, of the state Department of Public Health and Human Services.

"Everyone could benefit, but perhaps the poorest Montanans really stand to gain the most," he said.

Within a couple of years, $100 million in food stamps will likely be issued annually in Montana, he said.

"It would be a wonderful thing if that was used to purchase food produced in Montana," Hudson said.

Only 15 percent of the money spent on food in Montana goes for food produced in the state, participants were told. Simply doubling that to 30 percent would bring another $450 million to the state’s farmers and ranchers.

By GWEN FLORIO
Tribune Capitol Bureau

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