Food Recovery Project

In January, 2018, CGC received funding from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to start the research on a Food Recovery Project. This project is working to establish a food recovery system to reclaim unwanted and destined for the landfill food and into a variety of other more sustainable streams including re-distribution, processing, compost and animal feed.

Food Recovery is about redirecting surplus food that is destined for waste to more appropriate end users.  The Cowichan Green Community (CGC) Food Recovery Project addresses the environmental, social and economic issue of food waste by taking food that is fit for consumption but “not fit for sale” and finding the best use for that food. Food waste comes in three types: fit for human consumption, fit for animal consumption and fit for composting and/or energy production.

VISION: This program exists to decrease household food insecurity and food waste via an efficient, safe, convenient food redistribution system.

MISSION: Our mission at the CGC Food Recovery Project is to develop and implement a food recovery model for our region that diverts food waste into sustainable streams. By partnering with local farms, restaurants and food retailers we will rescue food and save it from ending up in the landfill. Through our efforts, we will acquire, glean, and redistribute recovered foodstuffs to agencies that provide meals and food for those at risk of hunger. Through the sales of value added and fresh-food products via an online market, this initiative will utilize a social enterprise model to self-generate revenue aimed at long-term financial self-sufficiency and sustainability.

VALUES: 

• Partnerships   
• Food security    
• Social responsibility
• Dignity 
• Environmental sustainability
• Accessibility          

GOALS/OBJECTIVES:

1. Provide a safe, affordable, and reliable recovered food redistribution system to increase household food security in the Cowichan Region.
2. Provide meaningful, long-term employment within the Cowichan Region.
3. Lobby for policy change at the corporate level to address food waste at its source.
4. Design/Promote an awareness/educational campaign to address the issue of food waste at the household level.
5. Secure/generate long-term funding for a food recovery program.
6. Develop an open-source food recovery toolkit to assist other communities in initiating their own food recovery projects.