Oregon Public Broadcasting

Gov. Ted Kulongoski urged the food industry Thursday to help address hunger in Oregon. Kulongoski appeared at Pacific Coast Fruit, which is among local companies donating food to the Oregon Food Bank. Pete Springer reports.

Oregon Food Bank officials report a four percent uptick in the number families picking up food boxes – especially in rural Oregon.

Governor Kulongoski helped cook up some fresh vegetables from a typical food box.

He says the rising costs of gasoline and food are making it a challenge for many families to afford nutritious meals.

Ted Kulongoski: “I think that what you’re seeing is that the general cost of living is going up, it’s making it very, very tough for these families to be able to provide of the necessities.”

In addition to Pacific Coast Fruit, Threemile Canyon Farm and Truitt Brothers are also contributing excess fresh food to the Oregon Food Bank.

Last year, Kulongoski spent a week living on food stamps to call attention to hunger in Oregon.

But he says with the rising cost of living it would be even more difficult this year to make nutritious meals using just food stamps.