Thrifty Foods is the third major retailer to jump on board the Perishable Food Recovery Program with the Friends In Need Food Bank.
The Perishable Food Recovery Program is designed to get viable, surplus perishable foods from local stores to those relying on the food bank.
At Shopper’s Drug Mart, this included dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains, as well as canned food.
Food waste can be considered either fit for human consumption, fit for animal consumption or fit for composting.
Yet, around 40 per cent of the food in Canada ends up in the waste stream, food that is considered fit for human consumption but not fit for sale.
At the time of the program launch, the Friends in Need Food Bank received $77,000 in provincial funding to purchase a new refrigerated van. It was also planning to upgrade the food bank’s refrigeration systems.
In addition, Friends collaborated with with Shoppers Drug Mart front store manager Michelle Poirier on a set of standards to ensure that the food would be safe for consumption.
Meridian Meats has also been a long-time participant in the program.
However, Mary Robson, executive director of the Friends In Need Food Bank, admits that it has been a struggle to expand the program.
“But we finally have Thrifty Foods thanks to the persistence of Mark Breier, store manager,” said Robson.
“And as soon as the agreements were signed, we started getting full totes of good quality, perishable foods,” she added.
Breier agreed donating food that would otherwise go to waste is the responsible thing to do for the community.
“It is the way of the future and we, too, want to be a part of that. My history with Thrifty Foods is the corporation has always supported the community we are in,” he said.
Totes are picked up Monday through Friday at Thrifty Foods in the food bank’s refrigerated van. The food is weighed on site and delivered to the food bank, where the totes are checked by volunteers and placed immediately into the self-serve cooler or set aside for one of the society’s programs.
Chuck Griffith, at the food bank, expects that more space will eventually be needed as the program expands.
Robson said the food bank is currently looking for space to house a washing station, storage for the totes and commercial grade fridges and freezers. She is planning to apply for additional grants to help with the costs.
Robson would one day like to see the food bank become the hub for collecting and redistributing food, not only for its registered clients, but to any non-profit organization in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows with a meal or snack program.