News

SURREY, BC – June 5, 2023 – Community Harvest Gleaning Services by Sources Community Resources Society (SOURCES) is back in season for its fifth year. The service is offered to anyone with excess crops/fruit and wants help with harvesting or reducing waste on their farm field or backyard. Run by Sources Food Hub Program, the service involves volunteers who assist with harvesting, in exchange for a share of the produce that goes to Sources food banks. To date, nearly 12,500 lbs of produce, including berries, lettuce, beans, apples, and pears, has been harvested.

“We are happy to be offering this service again this year. By choosing to use us, farmers and tree owners are not only able to manage their produce better but also help increase access to fresh, nutritious foods for those who might not be able to regularly afford it, while reducing food wastage in our backyards,” says Carrie Belanger, Program Manager at SOURCES. “It’s truly a win-win situation for our community.”

The harvest is equally divided among the owner, the volunteer team, and Sources food banks or other community meal programs. SOURCES volunteers are equipped with all the supplies necessary to harvest the produce. They are also trained to responsibly discard the green waste and clean up the area when they are done.

In addition to harvest gleaning, Sources Food Hub has been rescuing and redistributing food since 2019. This work addresses two major issues at once – food insecurity in our community and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from wasted food.

If you have excess crops in your farm field or backyard that can be redirected to those who need it, please register for Community Harvest Gleaning Services by filling the form available at SourcesBC.ca/Our-Services/Food-Hub or calling 604-596-0973.

People who enjoy active outdoor work and are interested in supporting their community can contact volunteerservices@sourcesbc.ca to volunteer.