Sources Food Hub
Calling all in Surrey and White Rock with hobby farms or fruit trees in their backyards!
Since 2019, Sources Community Resources Society (SOURCES) has been leading tackling food waste in our communities, particularly through their Community Harvest program, also known as gleaning.
Gleaning is the harvesting of unwanted or leftover crops for charitable use. In urban areas, it often includes harvesting fruits from residential properties, such as cherries, plums, apples or pears.
“Sources Community Harvest Program is another shining example of how our community is coming together to address food insecurity. Fruits and vegetables gleaned from farms and backyards are redirected to the food bank to address hunger and improve access to fresh produce, healthy for everyone. It is part of SOURCES larger food recovery efforts to redirect and reduce food waste,” said Carrie Belanger, Manager of Food Security Programs.
HOW IT WORKS
SOURCES requests that tree owners or farmers contact them well in advance of their crops coming ripe, as it takes about a week to organize a harvest. When SOURCES staff receive a request, they arrange a date with the donor, and then organize a team of vetted volunteers. Trained, and covered by the charity’s liability insurance, the gleaning team brings all the necessary equipment to the residence and harvests the produce. The produce is then shared in thirds between the donor, volunteer team, and Sources Food Banks or other local charities.
For more information about this program, please contact our Sources Food Hub team at foodhub@sourcesbc.ca or 604-596-0973.
Media Contact: Corina Carroll