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Today, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and other officials were in attendance as Cal-Maine Foods Inc., the nation’s largest producer and marketer of shell eggs, donated 10,800 dozen eggs to the Mississippi Food Network (MFN) and Extra Table. The donation will help food-insecure families in Mississippi.
“It’s an honor to be here today for such a wonderful occasion,” said Commissioner Gipson. “It’s unfathomable to reflect on how we stood here five years ago during the COVID pandemic, and now, once again, we find ourselves facing challenging times, and it’s up to us to stand in the gap for those in need across our state and our nation. We don’t want anyone to go hungry, and here in Mississippi, we are known for our generosity. Our people are facing an immediate crisis – access to food – and I felt compelled to ask all Mississippians, from individuals to our church groups and businesses, to step up and give back.”
“Today, Cal-Maine has set a great example with this generous donation,” continued Gipson. “I want to thank Cal-Maine Foods and their representative, Ryn Laster, for their compassion and commitment to providing for our fellow Mississippians. We’ve shown that while we may not always be able to depend on the federal government, we can depend on the good people of Mississippi. I encourage everyone who is able to keep on giving to meet the need at hand.”
The donation was made in conjunction with Commissioner Gipson’s recent plea for individuals and businesses to help struggling Mississippi families by supporting local food banks and pantries. Gipson was joined by Ryn Laster, Director of Food Safety and Animal Welfare at Cal-Maine Foods Inc.; Cassandra Mobley, Interim CEO of Mississippi Food Network; and Martha Allen Price, Executive Director of Extra Table.
“Cal-Maine is a Mississippi company,” said Ryn Laster of Cal-Maine Foods Inc. “We’re headquartered here in Mississippi, we’re proud to be Genuine MS®, and we try to give back to Mississippians as much as we possibly can. Last week, Commissioner Gipson put the call out to support Mississippians in need by supporting local food banks, and Cal-Maine is proud to answer that call and make this donation today to go toward supporting our neighbors, our communities and our Mississippi families.”
According to Feeding America and the Mississippi Food Network, one in five Mississippians – about 571,660 people – do not have enough to eat. More than one in five children, about 18.8 percent, go to bed hungry most nights. Eggs are packed with essential nutrients, including protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
“This generous donation from Cal-Maine Foods couldn’t have come at a better time. As we approach the holiday season, we’re seeing a sharp increase in families seeking assistance. These eggs will help provide much-needed nutrition and comfort to thousands of Mississippians during a time that should be filled with hope. We’re deeply grateful for partners like Cal-Maine who step up when our communities need it most,” said Cassandra Mobley of the Mississippi Food Network.
“We are so grateful for Cal-Maine’s quick response to this crisis. This generous donation is more than just eggs – it’s nourishment, relief, and hope for Mississippi families facing difficult times. Each carton represents more than a meal; it’s a reminder that we are stronger when we stand together. Cal-Maine is a partner we can always count on, and at Extra Table FEEDS, we believe food is the most basic of human rights – we are committed to feeding our hungry neighbors across the state,” said Martha Allen Price of Extra Table.
Mississippi Food Network has been feeding Mississippians since 1984 and serves 56 counties across the state. MFN distributes more than 2 million pounds of food and feeds more than 150,000 every month, or a total of 1.8 million people per year. To learn more about Mississippi Food Network and opportunities to give back, visit www.msfoodnet.org. Founded in 2009 by chef and restaurateur Robert St. John, Extra Table FEEDS is a Mississippi-based nonprofit food bank – receiving zero federal funds – committed to fighting hunger by providing new, nutritious, shelf-stable food to food pantries and soup kitchens across the state every month, always at no cost to them. To learn more or find ways to give back, visit www.extratable.org.
To view the press conference in its entirety, visit https://youtu.be/UJFuTsfH7Y8.
About Cal-Maine Foods
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing, marketing and distribution of fresh shell eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic, brown, free-range, pasture-raised and nutritionally enhanced eggs. The Company, which is headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi, is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States and sells the majority of its shell eggs in states across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
