As part of Ontario Agriculture Week and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, fruit and vegetable growers across Ontario are stepping up to help combat food insecurity in the province. 

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) has announced a $25,000 donation to Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue charity. This contribution will help provide nutritious food to families in need.

This donation aligns with Ontario Agriculture Week, a celebration of Ontario’s fresh, healthy food and a recognition of the vital role farmers play in feeding communities.

“Supporting Second Harvest in its mission to reduce hunger and food waste is one way growers are working to give back to their local communities, while also working tirelessly to fill grocery shelves and drive the local economy,” says Shawn Brenn, potato grower and OFVGA chair. 

The OFVGA’s commitment to fighting food insecurity is highlighted by this ongoing partnership with Second Harvest. While many individual farmers contribute regularly to local food banks and healthy eating initiatives, this marks the fourth year in a row that the OFVGA has made a direct donation. 

Based in Toronto, Second Harvest redistributes nutritious but unsold food to charities, non-profits and Indigenous communities across Canada. Over its 35-year history, the organization rescued more than 87.4 million pounds of healthy food last year alone, preventing more than 288 million pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. 

“Each year, the generous donations from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association greatly enhance our mission to deliver healthy food to those in need,” stated Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest. “This recent contribution will be quickly utilized in our ongoing efforts to combat food waste and food insecurity in Ontario.” 

The OFVGA represents Ontario’s 3,500 fruit and vegetable farmers and advocates on issues affecting the horticulture sector. Visit ofvga.org and Follow @OntFruitVeg on X and facebook.com/ofvga on Facebook. 

Second Harvest is a global leader in food rescue, operating at the intersection of hunger relief and environmental protection. Learn more about their mission at secondharvest.ca. 

Source:  Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association October 9, 2024 news release