The BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) is making a donation to Food-It-Forward Okanagan, by purchasing 300 bins to help the charity rescue cherries (and other food) from landfills.
Currently, the bins are being used to move food for evacuees and first responders.
Food-It-Forward Okanagan has partnered with a packinghouse to collect their culled cherries that do not meet market requirements (usually due to size or colour), but are still safe and delicious to eat. However, with approximately 1000 lbs of cherries per day donated from the packing house, Food It Forward was in need of bins appropriately sized to go onto the packing line, but still small enough for volunteers to lift and load for transport.
BCFGA donated 300 food-safe bins that will each hold 20 lbs of fruit. As cherry season wraps up, the bins will shift to carrying peaches, nectarines, grapes, and plums.
“We are pleased to support Food It Forward’s initiative and hope more packinghouses will consider donating their culled fruit,” said Glen Lucas, general manager of the BCFGA.
With large populations of students, fixed-income seniors, and working poor in Kelowna, nearly three-quarters of the community relies on social programming, says Lucas. Yet, 40 percent of all food grown or produced in Canada ends up in landfills.
“We are grateful for the ability to partner with BCFGA to rescue consumable food waste from our local farms, orchards, and packing houses within the Okanagan,” said Carrie Lynn, Food-It-Forward founder and CEO. “Thanks to BCFGA for purchasing 300 bins that enable us to provide food-safe bins that can be steamed or cleaned to be used to rescue fruit specifically.”
Food-It-Forward Okanaganis run solely by volunteers. This means a volunteer will be heading to the packing house, loading up the cherries into their personal vehicle, and distributing them directly to a central and convenient location for individuals in need. As a direct distribution service rather than a food bank, Food It Forward delivers to low-profile locations (such as apartment building foyers, child care resource centres, and friendship centres), thus, mitigating the stigma and inconvenience of accessing a food bank.
Any producers or retailers interested in donating funds, food, or time, should contact Food-It-Forward by email at fooditforwardokanagan@gmail.com or on their Facebook page.
