The Great Veggie Grow-off, year two, prepares for the final weigh-in on October 10th at the Almonte Farmer’s Market. You can help them reach the two ton mark.
This challenge between the communities of Mississippi Mills, Carleton Place and Beckwith is set to see which town will win the bragging rights for the most locally grown produce donated to the food bank this year. Last year’s combined total from the three communities was 2860 pounds of healthy food shared with the families who rely on the food bank. Neighbourhood Tomato Community Gardens coordinator in Carleton Place, Ray Elgersma, is excited by the notion that collectively the communities may tip the scales at over 2 tons this year. “This community challenge has helped us shine a light on the importance of food security by increasing interest in local growing of healthy food to share with our most vulnerable citizens. We were amazed by the amount of food grown and donated last year. We’ve already surpassed that total with a good chance of reaching the 2 ton level this year!”
Food Bank chair, Karen Lomas, mentioned, “We receive dated produce from stores which we hand out to our clients with the caveat that it should be eaten that day. With the Great Veggie Grow-off, our clients get produce that is very fresh and will last them for a week (or more) which greatly improves the nutritional factor of their hamper and is good for those with dietary restrictions. It also means we can spend the money saved from not buying produce and put it toward milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt (and sometimes even some hamburger).”
The food bank will always take donations of healthy, locally grown food throughout the year. However, to have produce added to your town’s total for this year’s Great Veggie Grow Off drop it off at the Lanark County Food Bank on Arthur Street in Carleton Place or at the Almonte Branch of the Public Library this week or bring it on Saturday October 10 for the final weigh-in of the Great Veggie Grow Off at the Almonte Farmers Market at 10:30 am. Help us tip the scales past 2 tons! The weigh-in is set to go at 11 am. See you there!
