Veggies arriving
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, August 8/2006
FRESH VEGGIES ARRIVING DAILY
They arrive in bags, boxes, by the carload and truckload. Right now Winnipeg Harvest is receiving 4,000 pounds a day of fresh vegetables from caring farmers and gardeners across the province. People are driving up to the Winnipeg Avenue warehouse to deliver fresh corn, cucumbers, beans, beets, zucchini and onions, suggesting a strong Grow-A-Row season is underway.
“The entire Winnipeg Harvest team thanks Manitobans for sharing their successful harvest with those in our community who are struggling to feed themselves and their families,” said David Northcott, Executive Coordinator of Winnipeg Harvest. “It is especially humbling because we know that many Manitoba farm families have themselves struggled with challenges, and yet still they find a way to give when they have extra at harvest time. Fresh local vegetables are a real boost to people who need to rely on emergency food to make it through the week.”
Northcott said Winnipeg Harvest is particularly encouraged because last year, Grow-A-Row donations were down 50% because of poor weather and less than average yields.
Gardeners and farmers who are in the process of harvesting crops may still drop off extra produce to Winnipeg Harvest at 1085 Winnipeg Avenue. Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions and turnips are at the top of the wish list because they have a longer shelf life.
Grow-A-Row was founded by Winnipeggers Ron and Eunice O’Donovan 20 years ago and since then, more than 2 million pounds, or almost 992,000 kgs of fresh produce has been donated to Winnipeg Harvest as a result.
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Winnipeg Harvest provides emergency food to 39,265 people each month. Almost half are children. We rely on our team of volunteers to get food to those in need. Please call 982-3663 if you are interested in our volunteer opportunities or visit www.winnipegharvest.org.
Media Contact:
Diane Poulin
982-3584
WINNIPEG HARVEST GROW-A-ROW SNAPSHOT
In 1986, Ron and Eunice O’Donovan produced more potatoes in their backyard garden than their family could consume. So instead of disposing of the potatoes, they donated them to the Food Bank. The response to their generosity was so positive they decided to encourage others in their own neighbourhoods to also donate their surplus vegetables to Winnipeg Harvest. the Grow-a-Row Campaign was born and has been growing ever since.
The following is a breakdown of the poundage of produce collected in Manitoba and donated to Winnipeg Harvest since the program began:
1987 87,000
1988 15,000
1989 100,000
1990 110,000
1991 125,000
1992 200,000
1993 35,000
1994 265,000
1995 208,000
1996 100,000
1997 75,000
1998 80,460
1999 122,000
2000 212,034
2001 130,000
2002 117,726
2003 101,826
2004 56,415
2005 40,165
TOTAL 2,180,626 lbs. = 991,194 kgs
More than 2 million pounds or almost 992,000 kgs
Last modified 2006-08-08 05:10 PM
