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Hunger in Idaho is not due to a food shortage, but economics. Many of the high-tech jobs that kept citizens of Boise employed went away. Thousands were layed off from their jobs and had to make due with unemployment. With less money in the economy, it affected many others. The Hunger in Idaho 2010 report shows an increase of 59% in people needing food assistance since the Hunger in Idaho 2006 report.
The latest Idaho Foodbytes from the Idaho Foodbank tells of a couple of solutions to hunger problems. The first one was from J. R. Simplot Co. with potatoes that were grown for French fries, but had too high a sugar content. Instead of being thrown out, the entire crop was donated for emergency food supplies. Even more long-term is a solution by Boise Yardsharing that's an organization that connects people who have no yards of their own with people who don't have the time or energy to cultivate a backyard garden. Not only does it increase food available to people, but it brings communities together.