Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - The Food Bank of Puerto Vallarta will be part of the network of NGOs through which the Government of Jalisco will invest 453 million pesos in food aid to over 480,000 people throughout the state this summer.

Represented regionally by Oscar Pérez Flores, the Food Bank will distribute despensas (food packages that typically contain such staples as dried beans, lentils, rice, pasta, and bouillon cubes) to more than 600 families in Puerto Vallarta and in the northern towns of Cabo Corrientes and Bahía de Banderas.

Oscar Perez explained that the program "is a part of the State of Jalisco Welfare Department's comprehensive strategy, which depends on the efforts of the state government in partnership with civil associations to ensure access, availability and the proper utilization of food." The State Institutions involved are the Ministry of Development and Social Integration, the Ministry of Rural Development, and DIF Jalisco. Private participants include the Mexican Association of Food Banks (AMBA) and the Chamber of Food Industry of Jalisco (CIAJ).

Last week, Jalisco State Governor Aristoteles Sandoval invited Oscar Perez to the municipality of Juanacatlán where he explained the details of this ambitious program. Working in alliance with the Mexican Association of Food Banks, the goal is to make a biweekly distribution of 20 kilos in food packages to about 150,000 beneficiaries in the Banderas Bay region in accordance with the National Council of Social Development Evaluation Policy (Coneval).

During the Governor's announcement, Flores learned that this program will also support self-sufficiency at home training and provide Jalisco families with health and nutritional advice, activities in which the Puerto Vallarta Food Bank will serve as a support link.

Therefore, in the coming months the Puerto Vallarta Food Bank will be busy strengthening the infrastructure and delivery logistics, encouraging local farmers to grow quality produce in their fields, and promoting the consumption of food produced in the towns. They will also be buying nonperishable foods and training program beneficiaries on issues such as home economics, health and nutrition, according to Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Vallarta Director, Oscar Perez Flores.