Local food banks will benefit from every Saturday Lethbridge Farmers’ Market thanks to FCC’s Drive Away Hunger program
Lethbridge, Alta. – The Lethbridge Farmers’ Market and its vendors are committed to feeding the community they call home. For the second year in a row, vendors at the Saturday Lethbridge Farmers’ Market presented by UFA can donate leftover produce and food to Drive Away Hunger, which then distributes the collected food to both Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Food Bank.
In 2023, the first year of the partnership between the Lethbridge Farmers’ Market and Drive Away Hunger, vendors donated 6,317 pounds of produce to local food banks. According to Drive Away Hunger, that is the equivalent of more than $22,000 in donations, and equates to more than 6,300 meals for those in need in our community.
“The Lethbridge Farmers’ Market vendor community is a remarkable group who are always willing to give back,” says Paul Kingsmith, Director of Community Engagement, Lethbridge & District Exhibition. “Our Farmers’ Market vendors have been contributing to local food banks for years, but our partnership with Drive Away Hunger has really helped to solidify the program and ensure the maximum amount of food is making it to our local food banks. This is a tremendous partnership for everyone involved.”
Drive Away Hunger is a Canada-wide campaign led by the agriculture and food industry, devoted to feeding as many Canadians as possible. Last year, the industry worked together to provide 143 million meals to people across Canada.
“More people than ever are facing food insecurity in Canada. Last March alone nearly two million people visited food banks,” says Carla Warnyca, FCC’s Manager, Community Investment. “It’s through the dedication and commitment of Drive Away Hunger partners like the Lethbridge Farmers’ Market and its vendors that we can make a difference. Canada’s agriculture and food industry is working together to meet the growing need with a growing response, reducing food waste and feeding more people.”
The Lethbridge Food Bank and Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge are committed to feeding the local community, each providing thousands of meals annually.
“We are very excited to receive this support from Farm Credit Canada and Lethbridge and District Exhibition,” says Danielle McIntyre, executive director with Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge. “Demand for our services has increased exponentially over the last two years, and we’ve been having a difficult time maintaining our supply of fresh options lately. This partnership is vital to our support to the community and can’t come fast enough. We’ve been awaiting the return of the Lethbridge Farmers’ Market and are looking forward to our weekly pickups to help keep our pick rooms stocked over the growing season. We also encourage community members to Grow A Row in their own gardens for the food banks, right now we need all the help we can get!”
Saturday Lethbridge Farmers’ Market presented by UFA returns this weekend
The Lethbridge Farmers’ Market season is upon us once again, as the Saturday Lethbridge Farmers’ Market presented by UFA kicks off its season on Saturday.
The market runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday in the UFA Hall of the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre. Admission is free and the market features healthy food options, unique household items, and much more. As Lethbridge’s only Alberta-approved farmers’ market, the market places a priority on items made, baked and grown in Alberta.
Shoppers are encouraged to park in the south lot of the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre and visit vendors both indoors in the UFA Hall and outdoors, outside of the venue’s south entrance.
Learn more at lethbridgefarmersmarket.ca.
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