Peggy Gregson, a representative of the American Overseas Dietetic Association, contacted Plenty in  February of this year to request information about the availability of soybeans in Central America. She was helping Ann Greig from  “Programa de Soya San Ramon” (PSSR) in El Salvador, to locate soybeans for their nutrition supplementation and small business development initiative. PSN provides nutritious mid-day meals for about 125 people a day in San Salvador, and sells soymilk along with other fresh soy food products to the public. Peggy is also working with colleagues in the School of Nutrition at the University of El Salvador to help address basic needs of families living in the Department of San Vicente near Rio Lempa. They are interested in using soyfoods to help address high rates of undernourishment among children and adults.
     
In May of this year three Plenty volunteers met with representatives in the Schools of Nutrition and Agronomy at the University of El Salvador, and the women at PSSR. Together we visited the area of Rio Lempa where I was surprised to find many undernourished  children and adults. With help from  Amado Del Valle Montufar, we were able to give university and community representatives three varieties of non-GMO soybeans for trial plantings. While meeting with Ann Greig and the women at PSSR we learned how they were making soymilk, which had a very good taste and quality, and exchanged ideas about improving their processing procedures.
     
Plenty has agreed to provide technical support that can help the university representatives and communities of Rio Lempa initiate production of soybeans, as well as learn methods of adapting use of soyfoods within traditional foods and meals. We also want to contribute to the efforts of women at PSSR in sustaining nutrition supplmentation services for low-income families, by improving production and increasing sales of their high quality fresh soyfood products.