(Left) James McAra, President and CEO, Calgary Food Bank and Ken Keelor, CEO of Calgary Co-op, pose at the Calgary Food Bank.
Calgary Co-op has launched The Calgary Co-op Fresh Food Rescue Program, in collaboration with the Calgary Food Bank’s Fresh Tote Food Rescue.
The Fresh Food Rescue Program is in addition to the $3 million being committed by Calgary Co-op to address food security and support vulnerable populations in 2022. Calgary Co-op has provided more than 260,000 pounds of fresh food, with a quality and usability rate of 98 per cent. To date, more than 16,000 individuals have been positively impacted by this program through fresh food hampers built and distributed by the Calgary Food Bank.
Five days a week, Calgary Co-op team members carefully select and pack a range of food items that are still perfectly fresh and safe for consumption but are nearing their best before dates. Items include fresh produce, dairy, frozen food, bakery and deli products, meat, and non-perishable grocery items. Product is picked up from the stores five days a week by the Calgary Food Bank, promptly transported to their facility, then
placed into emergency hampers and delivered to clients that same day.
Says Ken Keelor, CEO of Calgary Co-op, “Teamwork is at the core of everything we do, and this new program is another way our team members can contribute to the community in meaningful ways. By safely selecting and transporting items that are fresh but nearing their best before dates, we are helping to provide fresh, quality food items to food bank clients, while also reducing food waste.”
Previously, fresh food waste was composted or recycled, contributing to more than 6,000 tonnes of waste annually. Now only items that are out of date, overripe or damaged go to the landfill, further reducing in-store food waste.
