A big investment will help the Regional Food Distribution Association accept more perishable food.
Executive Director Volker Kromm explains they got over $240,000 from the province’s new Surplus Food Redistribution Infrastructure Program.
“COVID-19 has really changed the food supply landscape, and made food available in the strangest places, when restaurants’ food patterns have changed,” Kromm says. “There’s food sitting in warehouses that’s now been made available, so before it expires, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks is trying to harvest that, so we’re very fortunate.”
Kromm says the money will go toward a refrigerated truck to transport food, and an industrial food processor to prepare fresh food to be frozen or made into meals.
He adds it will be a big help this holiday season because the RFDA is “really stretched” by the pandemic.
The organization has set its sights on equipment like band saws and meat grinders if they’re able to get further funding.
“We’ve become a bit of a food processing centre in order to divert food from landfills,” Kromm says.
The money was announced on Friday, and is part of a $5-million investment that also helps Grand Council Treaty #3, Matawa First Nations Management, and Nokiiwin and Bimose Tribal Councils.
