Visitors to the Peterborough Wednesday Farmers' Market will soon have a new opportunity to help feed people in need — while giving farmers a boost, too. As part of a provincewide initiative funded through a $40,000 grant from RBC, Kawartha Food Share will collect newly purchased fresh produce from market visitors to offer food bank users healthy, local food.
"That's how it works," said Kawartha Food Share manager John Alleyne. "There will be a booth set up."It's called Buy Local, Share Local, and features a travelling information display that will visit 10 Ontario farmers' markets this month and next. The program, an initiative of the Ontario Association of Food Banks, was launched Wednesday with the new booth at the market, which is held at the Louis St. parking lot.
The program benefits farmers by helping to promote local produce, Alleyne said. Anna Olson, host of Fresh with Anna Olson on The Food Network, is the face of the program Alleyne couldn't say how much of the $40,000 donation will make its way to Peterborough. "I know the amount is for the whole province," he said. Kawartha Food Share is a distribution warehouse offering food to 42 food banks in the city and county.
More than 8,300 people use these food banks every month, with 36% of those being young people and children, Kawartha Food Share reports. Food is also distributed to school nutrition programs.