Last April, in an effort to bring the supply of hogs back in balance with demand and improve prices, the federal government introduced a 50 million dollar program to compensate pork producers who agreed to reduce their breeding herds.

Although the meat from animals culled under the program was not allowed to enter the commercial food distribution chain, use by food banks was considered acceptable.

Food Banks of Saskatchewan executive director Bill Hall says, thanks to the support of the province's pork producers through the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board and with the help of a 440 thousand dollar grant from the provincial government to cover the cost of processing, Saskatchewan food banks will be able to provide their clients with high quality protein for the better part of a year.

Bill Hall-Food Banks of Saskatchewan

Approximately two thousand sows were diverted from the cull program and processed and that looks like about 500 thousand pounds of meat in ground and roasts and ribs and it will be going to our member food banks across the province as well as associated agencies.

We have 17 member food banks around the province.

The majority will be staying in the larger urban areas because that's where most of our clients live.

It'll be distributed by various trucking firms that we've contracted.

Certainly we think that if we manage this well this meat will last us at least until next April and it's a real bonus because most of the time we're struggling to just find good sources of protein for our clients.

Hall says it has been wonderful to see how Saskatchewan pork producers, Sask Pork, the province and the association of food banks have been able to partner together to help those in need.

He acknowledges this much needed meat donation has come with a high price to producers, many of whom have gone out of business as a result of the difficulties faced by their industry.