Largest fresh-food donation in Canadian history (video)

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS

************************* Ontario greenhouse pepper farmer establishes fresh way of giving food in tough economic times

Nature Fresh Farms starts major produce donation program for Ontario's food banks, hopes provincial government will support other farmer through new tax credit

HAMILTON, ON - One of Ontario's largest greenhouse bell pepper producers is planting seeds that he hopes will put an abundance of fresh produce on the tables of tens of thousands of hungry Ontarians.

Peter Quiring, founder and president of Nature Fresh Farms, a Leamington-based greenhouse operation, is donating half a million pounds of peppers this year to feed Ontario's growing numbers of hungry families, after connecting with Hamilton Food Share through a Hamilton-based rehab centre called Turning Point.

Once fully operational, the pepper donation initiative will be the largest giving program of fresh fruits and vegetables in the country.

Mr. Quiring hopes his efforts will lead to tax changes that would encourage other growers to participate, putting millions of dollars worth of fresh, Ontario-grown tomatoes, cucumbers and other fruits and vegetables on food bank shelves across the province annually.

Mr. Quiring said his company harvests peppers 10 months of the year, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce from March through December.

"We are facing tough times in Ontario, and we all need to do more to help each other," said Mr. Quiring, whose greenhouse business founded in 1996 has blossomed into a 67-acre, high-tech operation that is Ontario's single largest producer of yellow, red and orange peppers.

"I was inspired by the great work being done by the people at Turning Point, who in turn introduced me to this opportunity to help those who are less fortunate," said Mr. Quiring. Turning Point Executive Director John Vereecke brought Mr. Quiring together with Joanne Santucci, executive director of Hamilton Food Share, to explore Mr. Quiring's vision to help feed the less fortunate.

Ms. Santucci, whose organization procures more than two million pounds of food annually for distribution through a network of community-based organizations, said she was thrilled at the prospect of receiving fresh food.

"Fresh produce is something that has been missing from the mix, but we are set up to handle it with cold storage," said Ms. Santucci. "This donation is more than we could absorb in the local communities we serve, so we are working with the Ontario Association of Food Banks to get product to people across the province."

Adam Spence, executive director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB), said the initiative is much-needed because fresh produce is in high demand in food programs that are feeling the pressure of the economic downturn.

"Our numbers have jumped 20 percent since last year," noted Mr. Spence. "Fresh fruits and vegetables are in great demand by food banks and families turning to us for support, so we applaud Nature Fresh Farms for their leadership in the fight against hunger. A provincial tax credit program would help us meet the growing need for more fresh food by providing an incentive for other farmers to donate."

Mr. Quiring said he believes other Ontario growers would be willing to divert millions of pounds of produce to the province's food banks if governments created tax credits to help offset the costs of managing such programs.

Currently, Ontario's farmers and processors receive no benefit or compensation for food donations.

There are already donated crop tax credits in place in many U.S. states, including Colorado, North Carolina, and Oregon.

"There is the potential for redirecting up to 10 million pounds of fresh produce to the hungry, but there needs to be a tax credit to help cover some of our farm costs," added Quiring.

Nature Fresh Farms will be making their donation as a generous gift, without the benefit of any tax credit.

The OAFB has been working with a number of agricultural partners, including the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) with the goal of having a commitment to a donated tax credit program in place by the end of 2009.

The OAFB has pressed the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the Ontario Ministry of Finance to implement the tax credit.

"It's important that everyone have access to healthy local food," said OFA President Bette Jean Crews. "These efforts support Ontario food banks and local farmers which helps ensure a sustainable food system for everyone."

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