Comments Off on A fresh food summer round-up!
Summer is one of the hardest seasons for food banks. Non-perishable donations drop sharply, and shelves become bare just as families face rising food costs. But at North York Harvest, summer is also a season of creativity — a time when partnerships, community events, and innovative programs connect families with the fresh, healthy food they need.
Here’s some of what you helped to make possible this summer:
Fresh Food at Foodie Fest
At the annual Foodie Festival hosted by Rexdale Community Health Centre and Albion Public Library, North York Harvest distributed produce directly to the community through our Albion Library Community Food Space. This space became a hub of activity as families gathered for a day of culture, food, and connection.
Rexdale CHC purchased $6,000 of fresh produce through our social enterprise FoodReach, our social enterprise that uses the collective buying power of schools, libraries, shelters, drop-ins, and food banks to lower food costs for all. Together, we distributed 2,945 lbs. of corn, apples, oranges, kale, plantain, and sweet potatoes to our community!
Summer Green Market
Fresh food that’s about 60% cheaper than the grocery store?
That’s what happens when social enterprise and community partners join forces.
From July 8-August 26 North York Harvest Food Bank‘s Summer Green Markets returned to make fruits and veggies more accessible at our Albion Library Community Food Space.
By purchasing fresh food through FoodReach, and thanks to a grant from Toronto Public Library, we were able to slash food prices for our community.
Revenue from the market is then reinvested into North York Harvest’s programs that power workforce development, sustainable livelihoods, and food access.
Serving More Fresh Food Options
Community partnerships with local producers went into action to fill the summer gap. This season, North York Harvest distributed fresh food to families across northern Toronto — produce that would have otherwise been out of reach for many.
For example, we partnered with an Ontario farm who grew melons, callaloo, and zucchinis for our community, because everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food.
Thanks to partnerships like these, 27% of the food we now distribute is fresh food versus non-perishable items, up from 20% just a year ago. And in August, an astonishing 37% of food was fresh!
But space limitations in our current warehouse mean we still have to turn away thousands of pounds of fresh food every year. Our community needs this support, and we’re determined to expand our capacity. Our new Community Food Hub will include nearly 5,000 sq. ft. of refrigerated space, dramatically increasing our ability to store and distribute fresh produce, dairy, and culturally relevant foods year-round.
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