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Canada: Vancouver Park Board’s Sunset Nursery are growing produce to feed the hungry

July is harvest time at the Park Board’s Sunset Nursery

This spring, our staff began growing vegetables and herbs such as lettuce, Swiss chard, kale, and parsley at Sunset Nursery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased levels of food insecurity.

Vancouver Park Board
July 31 2020

Excerpt:

Green thumbs at the Vancouver Park Board’s Sunset Nursery are growing produce that is being used to feed hundreds of Vancouver families, as well as provide meaningful employment for chefs and kitchen professionals.

“This spring, our staff began growing vegetables and herbs such as lettuce, Swiss chard, kale, and parsley at Sunset Nursery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased levels of food insecurity,” said Vancouver Park Board Chair Camil Dumont.

“We recognize urban agriculture as a valuable food-focused activity that can contribute to community development, environmental awareness and benefits, positive social interaction, learning, health, exercise, wellness, and access to fresh food.”

Typically, Sunset Nursery (located at Main and 51st) is where about 300,000 annuals, most grown from seed, are propagated. The plants are shipped to parks and gardens throughout the city for landscaping.

Helping students and their families

Fresh Roots is one of the agencies now benefiting from the produce. It receives 10 to 16 crates a week for its LunchLAB: Chefs for Families program External website, opens in new tab, which offers students and their families delicious, healthy meals, providing much-needed nourishment and meaningful employment for chefs and kitchen professionals who would otherwise not be working.

Read the complete article here.