KEEPING THINGS FRESH.

The Community Harvest Ontario (CHO) Program is an initiative of the Ontario Association of Food Banks to provide fresh, nutritious, and local produce to food banks across the province.

At the Ottawa Food Bank, it’s the generous support of local farmers and volunteers that enables our Community Harvest program and provides fresh produce to our neighbours in need.

Growing

One of the most exciting parts of our Community Harvest initiative is growing and harvesting our own crops.

In 2011 we partnered with Roots and Shoots Farm for a second consecutive year to grow organic carrots. We also expanded our farming projects to include an additional half-acre of potatoes at both Roots and Shoots Farm and  Knotty Bottoms Farm. The combined yield from these projects was just under 8,000 pounds.

The 2011 season also brought the addition of a Montessori Gleaning Garden at Roots and Shoots Farm, which was planted and harvested by the Junior High class of Ottawa Montessori School. This garden resulted in 200 pounds of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Another thank you should be extended to Rideau Nursery for donating hundreds of vegetables seedlings which enabled both the gleaning garden and the growing of hundreds of tomato and bell pepper plats at the Knotty Bottoms site.

During the growing season, we’re always on the lookout for dedicated volunteers to help out around the farm. We also welcome monetary and equipment donations to help make our process more efficient, and to expedite program expansion.

Gleaning

Another way that we acquire fresh produce is through gleaning crops on local farms. Gleaning is the age-old practice of collecting crops that, while still in good condition, remain in the field following a farmer’s commercial harvest.

Thanks to our 52 volunteers who harvested and packed the freshly picked food in 2011, we were able to glean just under 16,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Thank you to the following farms for their strong support of our gleaning program: Ovens Berry Farm, Proulx Sugarbush and Berry Farm, Pinehill Orchards, and Needhams Market Garden.

Giving

The donation of produce by farmers and home gardeners is also a significant part of the CHO program. Many thanks to the following farms who have generously donated their excess produce this year: Foster Family Farm, Ovens Berry Farm, and Mr. John Krapiec. In 2011 local farms donated over 10,000 pounds of fresh produce!

We would also like to thank the Ottawa Farmers’ Market for enabling a closer relationship between market vendors, market patrons, and the Ottawa Food Bank. In 2011, over 11,000 pounds of fresh market produce and baked items were donated to the Ottawa Food Bank. Many thanks to the farms and business for their generous donations throughout the market season.

A look at the benefits of Gleaning: