Second harvest

Second Harvest: Rescuing Food and Feeding Communities

Second Harvest is a Canadian non-profit organization that has been working tirelessly to reduce food waste and alleviate hunger in the country. Founded in 1985, Second Harvest has grown to become the largest food rescue organization in Canada, with a mission to capture surplus food from farms, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers before it ends up in landfills. The rescued food is then distributed to social service agencies that serve people experiencing hunger.

The problem of food waste is staggering. According to Second Harvest's website, nearly 60% of all food produced in Canada goes to waste every year. This amounts to over 35 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually - equivalent to taking more than 7 million cars off the road each year. At the same time, millions of Canadians struggle with hunger and poverty.

Second Harvest addresses both these issues by rescuing good quality surplus food that would otherwise go wasted and distributing it through its network of over 1,500 social service agencies across Canada. These include shelters for homeless individuals and families; community centres; after-school programs; seniors' residences; Indigenous communities; and many others.

The impact of Second Harvest's work is significant. In 2020 alone, they rescued over 22 million pounds (10 million kilograms) of surplus fresh produce, meat, dairy products, bakery items and other foods - enough for over 40 million meals! This helped divert more than $70 million worth of good quality nutritious food from landfills while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated equivalent amount as taking almost 15 thousand cars off the road for a year.

But Second Harvest's work goes beyond just rescuing surplus food. They also provide education on reducing household waste through their Love Food Hate Waste program which offers tips on meal planning & storage techniques as well as recipes using leftovers or less-than-perfect produce.

In addition they have developed innovative programs to address specific needs in the community. For example, their FoodRescue.ca platform connects food businesses with surplus food to local charities and non-profits who can use it. They also have a program called Second Harvest Fresh that provides fresh produce and other perishable items directly to people in need through pop-up markets and mobile trucks.

Second Harvest's work is made possible by the support of donors, volunteers, and partners. They rely on financial donations from individuals, corporations, foundations as well as government grants to fund their operations. Volunteers play a crucial role in sorting and packing rescued food at their warehouse facilities across Canada.

Partnerships are also key to Second Harvest's success. They work with farmers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers across Canada who donate surplus food or provide funding for their programs. Some of their notable partners include Walmart Canada Foundation; Loblaw Companies Limited; Maple Leaf Foods; Danone North America; General Mills Foundation; TD Bank Group among others.

In conclusion, Second Harvest is an organization that has been making a significant impact on reducing food waste while addressing hunger in Canadian communities for over 35 years now. Their innovative programs have helped rescue millions of pounds of good quality nutritious food from landfills while providing much-needed support to social service agencies serving vulnerable populations across the country.

If you're looking for ways to make a difference in your community or reduce your household waste footprint - consider supporting Second Harvest through volunteering or donating today!