Food for Peace commodities are grown in virtually every U.S. state. Much more than farming is involved. Merchants sell the seed and fertilizer, mechanics keep the combines running, bankers extend credit to the farmers, millers process the grain, drivers and stevedores load the ships.

Freight forwarders tackle the logistics as the food moves by truck, train, and barge. At ports on the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic and Pacific, it clears customs and is placed in special containers. Once arrived in Africa, Asia or elsewhere, customs and receiving agents verify the supplies. Giant "vacuvators" extract the food and pour it into bagging machines. Once more it is loaded onto trucks hired by NGOs, the U.N. or private companies and is driven to final distribution points.

Unloading Ships like this carried more than 3.2 million metric tons of U.S. food aid in 2003. ▶ Shipping In its 50 year history, Food for Peace has shipped 106 million metric tons of food abroad. This is enough to feed 800 million people for 1 year, or 16 million people every year for 50 years.

Loading ◀ American workers load food supplies for shipment to hungry people all over the world.

Though it has passed through many hands and traveled for weeks across the sea, a remarkable 99 percent of U.S. food aid will arrive at its intended destination and be consumed by the people for whom it was intended.

Warehousing U.S. food aid creates thousands of jobs for people in the countries that receive it.

Distribution Approximately 133 million people benefited from Food for Peace supplies in 2003, the most ever.

Carrying it Home More than 150 countries have received U.S. food aid over the years.

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