Members of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) have made a $25,000 donation to Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue charity that redistributes nutritious but unsold food through school programs, seniors’ centres, shelters, food banks and regional food hubs. 

While many individual farmers regularly support their local food banks and programs that support healthy eating, this is the second year in a row the OFVGA has made a direct donation of $25,000.

“There is a lot of hope that we are nearing end of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is no question it has been a very difficult time for many families over the past two-plus years,” says Charles Stevens, chair of the OFVGA. “It has also been a challenge for farmers, with public health measures to control the spread of the virus creating never-before-seen hurdles in food production. On behalf of Ontario’s 3,500 fruit and vegetable farmers, we are appreciative of the support we have received from government to help navigate through these times and are happy to give a little back to support those who are in need.”

Second Harvest is based in Toronto, but provides its free food redistribution service to charities, non-profits and Indigenous communities in every Canadian province and territory.  More than 35 years in operation, the organization has rescued more than 218 million pounds of healthy food, keeping it out of landfills, and preventing an estimated 429 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.

“At Second Harvest, we are on a mission towards No waste. No hunger,” says Lori Nikkel, Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest. “This generous support from Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farmers will help move us towards that goal, supporting an innovative and efficient food recovery network to reduce the environmental impact of avoidable food waste, and getting food onto the plates of hungry families.”

The donation was made at the Second Harvest Food Bank location in Etobicoke.

Source:  Second Harvest April 27, 2022 news release