The gift of soybeans will feed hungry children in Central America. This news release from the American Soybean Association says the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association (NFGSA), a non-profit organization of nine regional soybean processing companies, donated two 20 metric ton containers of food-grade soybeans to the World Soy Foundation (WSF), with the soybeans being shipped to Guatemala and Honduras to be used by SoyCows to feed thousands of children.
A “SoyCow” is a processing system that can grind and cook whole soybeans into soymilk to make beverages, soya “cheese” (tofu), yogurt and other soyfoods. The SoyCow can process about four pounds of raw soybeans into four gallons of nutritious soymilk in about 20 minutes. The insoluble parts of the bean can be used to enhance the nutrition of local foods, such as breads, patties, stews and other blends.
One in four children in Honduras is chronically malnourished; that rate rises to one in two children in Guatemala. These soybeans will be processed into soy beverages and foods in both countries and served in orphanages, child care centers, clinics and elsewhere to help provide valuable protein to children in need.
NFGSA member companies participating in this donation include Brushvale Seed, Richland IFC, SB &B Foods, SK Food International and SunOpta.