United Producers Inc. Launches Food Bank Fundraiser to Celebrate National Co-Op Month During International Year of the Cooperative

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Producers Inc. (UPI), which operates livestock marketing facilities throughout the Midwest, announced today it is launching a month-long Cooperating to Feed Our Community fundraiser to support local food banks. The fundraiser is being held in honor of October being National Co-Op Month and 2012 being the International Year of the Cooperative.

“As a cooperative organization, we know how important it is to help those in our communities”

“As a cooperative organization, we know how important it is to help those in our communities,” said Dennis Bolling, President and CEO of UPI. “Cooperating to Feed Our Community is a great opportunity for our members and employees to give back to our community through making donations to our local food banks. Food prices continue to rise, and this is one tangible way our farmer members and employees are working together to help ease that burden for those in our communities who need it most.”

To demonstrate the power of the cooperative, United Producers is asking its members and employees to help make a difference in their community this October by donating to their state food bank association. Members and employees can donate as little or as much as they wish—per head of livestock marketed through UPI or in a lump sum – and all donations will be tax deductible. Forms can be completed upon check-in at any United Producers market, or obtained from any UPI representative starting today.

United Producers, Inc. is one of the largest farmer-owned livestock marketing cooperatives in the United States. In addition to livestock marketing, United Producers provides credit and risk management services, and serves more than 35,000 livestock producers in the Midwest United States. United Producers was formed in 1934 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information about becoming a UPI member, visit www.uproducers.com.