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creased.  "We believe that no one in our state should go hungry or try to survive without access to adequate amounts of healthy, nutritious food," said Matt Gassen, Executive Director of Feeding South Dakota.  Overall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that the national food insecurity rate remained relatively unchanged from last year at 16.1 percent in 2010 - or nearly 49 million people nationwide.
•  The data also shows:
•  The average cost of a meal in South Dakota is $2.45, which is lower than the national average of $2.52.
•  The total shortfall for all food insecure individuals in South Dakota is $43,213,400 annually.
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•  This is the second year that Feeding America has conducted the "Map the Meal Gap" study. The findings of "Map the Meal Gap" are based on statistics collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and food price data and analysis provided by The Nielsen Company (NYSE: NLSN), a global information and measurement company providing insights into what consumers watch and buy. The study was supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Nielsen.
•  "Map the Meal Gap" provides critical information--food insecurity rates for each county and congressional district. Prior to the study's first release in March 2011, food insecurity data was only available at the state level in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual report. The study further analyzes each county's food insecure population to determine their income eligibility for federal nutrition assistance, and also provides meal cost estimates for every county in the nation. This data has the potential to redefine the way service providers and policy makers address areas of need.
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•  About Feeding South Dakota
•  Feeding South Dakota is the state's largest charitable hunger relief organization whose mission is to eliminate hunger in South Dakota with distribution centers in Sioux Falls, Pierre and Rapid City. In 2011, Feeding South Dakota secured and distributed 12.2 million pounds of quality nutritious donated and purchased food, along with other surplus items through a network of over 500 charitable organizations across the state. These organizations then provide this food to individuals who are "food insecure" through on-site feeding programs, emergency food pantries, after school programs and mass distribution programs.  For more information on Feeding South Dakota, please visit www.feedingsouthdakota.org.