The eighth Fresh from the Farm school fundraising campaign is back! The 2020 campaign was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The program is managed by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ontario Apple Growers.

Nearly 250 schools, child care centres and First Nation communities across Ontario registered to participate as pandemic restrictions have eased for fundraising events again.

From September 7 to October 18, Ontario schools raised more than $119,000 by selling 16,000 bundles or almost 190,000 pounds of Ontario-grown root vegetables and apples.

The Fresh from the Farm team is reviewing the feasibility of offering an enhanced program in the fall of 2022 that would include an e-commerce option. This would potentially allow the general public to purchase Ontario-grown vegetable and apple bundles while directing proceeds to a school or community organization in their region.

Source: Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association