LFB Fresh Food Policy

Fresh Food Policy

London Food Bank

A Special Research Project Prepared By Brock University Student

Jessica Muller

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Nutritious food is something that everyone should have the right to, yet so many individuals around the world are going without it. It provides the bod with vitamins and minerals that are crucial for survival. We live in a world that should be able to provide enough food for everyone, more individuals than ever are having to go without. Food riots have occurred throughout the globe because of the rising price and lack of food security. When this happens, the impacts can be felt on both the large and small scale. Our local communities need to be aware of and invested in what their citizens eat. Additionally, cities need to be conscious about those within their communities who may not be able to afford to feed themselves and their families on a daily basis. In many instances, it has been left up to the local food banks to ensure and provide the resources to individuals and families that are in need.

Food shapes each community differently. Where we live determines the type of food that is available for us to eat on a regular basis. What people eat is also influenced by factors such as economic, social, and the physical environment. Eating healthy is determined by the

availability of food, the ability to choose healthy food, and the time and skills available to prepare healthy food choices.1 However, not every individual has the ability to afford to choose the healthy choices for every meal, which in most cases leads to hunger.

Hunger is not simple to define. Hunger is mainly thought of as the inability to access enough food to eat, however, hunger can also be not having the resources to have meals that are considered to be nutritiously balanced.2 The most common cause of hunger can be attributed to lack of income. People can then find themselves caught in a poverty trap. With the cost of housing increase, now more than ever there is a need for affordable housing. Many cities have a shortage of affordable housing when compared to those who are in need. The cycle of low income and high housing cost thus, can make obtaining nutritious food almost impossible. This then keeps individuals within the same poverty trap.3

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1 Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion. "Understanding the Forces that Influence our Eating Habits: What We Know and Need to Kow." Canadian Journal of Public Health 96 (July/Aug 2005). P. s9

2 Daily Bread Food Bank. "Hunger Snapshot: Fighting Hunger- 2011 Profile of Hunger in the GTA." Daily Bread Food Bank. 2011. http://www.dailybread.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/HungerSnapshot-Web.pdf

3 Ibid.

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As a means of combating the problem of hunger throughout a city, a temporary solution was developed. John van Hengel established the first food bank in St. Mary’s, Arizona in 1967. While he was volunteering with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, he discovered that food that was damaged or that was near expiration was thrown away by grocery stores. Meeting with grocery store managers, van Hengel encouraged them to donate this unsalable, but still edible food to him at the St. Vincent de Paul. In the first year he distributed over 250,000 pounds of food to 36 different agencies.4 Since van Hengel, many other food banks have been established throughout cities in North America.

Food banks were established as a means for supplying emergency food for individuals and families. This allocation of food can come in the form of many different things. Some food banks choose to distribute hampers that are premade according to product availability and family size. Each hamper thus, is similar and contains the same food groups, however they may not necessarily be the same products. Other food banks have more of a grocery store feel. An individual who came into the food bank would

receive points or credits. Individuals are able to choose what they would like to have, with each product representing a certain amount of points. Once they have spent their credits their hamper would then be complete.5

With diversified clients, many food banks are currently interested in providing their clients with healthy food options. These options can either be perishable and non-perishable options. Some food banks are now starting to transition away from canned food in favour of fresh food. Instead of cans, some food banks have opted to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables in order to make large volumes of soups, chilli, and stews and then freezing them before the clients receive them. This is one option that allows the clients to receive healthy food that can also be easily stored.6 This is a good way to ensure that the fresh produce that may be wasted or is getting close to expiring would be able to be used instead of composted. It also is a way that will allow volunteers, cooking classes, or cooking schools to practice their culinary talents while helping those in need.

The London Food Bank has commonly been asking for donations of non-perishable items from citizens, to give to those in need. Through the generous donations of Londoners, the

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4 St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance. About Us: The History. 2011. http://www.firstfoodbank.org/history.html

5 Katie Zezima. "From Canned Goods to Fresh, Food Banks Adapt." The New York Times, Dec. 2008.

6 Ibid.

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food bank has been able to deliver food to many individuals who are in need. Any individual in need that comes to the food bank will receive a food hamper, filled with mostly non-perishable food. In 2010, there were roughly 3,100 families using the food bank each and every month. When the economic crisis hit, more Londoners than ever came to the food bank for emergency food assistance. Nearly one quarter of all patrons coming to the food bank in 2010 did not have a source of income.7 In November 2011, the food bank helped over 3,500 families. This was the busiest month since the food bank opened 25 years ago and shows the growing need developing within London.8

Currently, there is a growing movement for eating food that is locally grown. Each growing season, hundreds

of tons of food are being tilled back under the ground, even though they are still fit for consumption. While this food is still nutritious, it for any number of reasons has become deemed unsalable. As a result, food banks are partnering with local farmers to help to bring fresh food to the clients at the food bank. Fresh local food would not be a replacement to the non-perishable food found within a hamper,

just adds to it. Canned food is still a good alternative as a means to preserve the nutrients that can be found in fruits and vegetables.9 Companies are now also starting to offer low-sodium, and low sugar contains as well, providing better nutrients for those eating the food. Fresh foods do loose nutrients as soon as they are picked from the field. The faster fresh produce is picked from the field and placed on tables the more nutrients it will contain. By receiving food from local farmers and producers, the food bank will provide an alternative to fresh food that would otherwise be discarded of or left in the fields. 10

The London Food Bank is now partnering with local farmers in order to provide fresh local produce to their clients. Throughout the local growing seasons, farmers are donating their unused, unsalable, or produce that is still left in the field after a harvest. It is then either distributed to the clients of the food bank or to the different agencies that the food bank serves. This allows for a closer ring of distribution and allows food to be quickly put onto tables.

The individuals that are using the food bank are, often times, the ones that are most in need of receiving healthy and nutritious food. Just because a person is in need of food assistance, should not mean

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7 London Food Bank. Statistics. 2010. http://web.ca/~londonfb/LFB-statistics.htm

8 London Food Bank. Learn. December 2011. http://www.londonfoodbank.ca/learn/

9 Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport. Food Safety- Canned Foods. 2011. http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/ViewDocument.aspx?id=225

10Diane M. Barrett, John C. Beaulieu, and Rob Shewfelt. "Color, Flavor, Texture, and Nutritional Quality of Fresh-Cut Fruits and Vegetables: Desirable Levels, Instrumental and Sensory Measurement and the Effects of Processing." Food Science And Nutrition 50, no. 5 (May 2010): 369

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that they are provided with less healthy and nutritious food opinions than what would be available in a grocery store. With the help from the Ontario Association of Food Banks and local farmers, the London Food Bank has been able to serve clients in a way they have never been able to do before. The London Food Bank would like to continue to move in the direction of serving clients fresh and local produce throughout growing seasons.

Food Deserts The availability of fresh local produce is not always accessible to everyone living within a community. There are regions throughout a city that do not have easy access to grocery stores or markets. A food desert can be defined as “disadvantaged areas of cities with relatively poor access to healthy and affordable food.”11 Within a food deserts there would be limited access to affordable fruits, vegetables, and other foods that help to ensure a healthy diet. This is because these areas are far away from any grocery store and without

adequate public transportation options to transport them there. Food deserts exist in most cities throughout both Canada and the United States.12

The introduction of the automobile has created a different culture when it comes everyday living. Since World War Two, the automobile has become less a status of wealth and more a status of convenience. It has provided the ability for individuals to travel greater distances over a shorter period of time. With the more individuals being able to afford a vehicle, cities have been shaped as a means to accommodate the car.13

The car has also meant that individuals have moved away from the inner city into more favourable neighbourhoods that can be found in suburban areas. Grocery stores used to be located within the downtown until the 1970’s, when retailers began to follow their customers outside of the inner city and closer to the suburban areas, where their customer base relocated. Independent grocery stores then became a thing of the past. Chain stores were able to provide lower prices to consumers as well

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11 Jason Gilliland and Kristian Larsen. "Mapping the Evolution of "Food Deserts" in a Canadian City: Supermarket Accessibility in London, Ontario 1961-2005." International Journal of Health Geographics 7, no. 16 (April 2008).

12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Food Desert. July 5, 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/features/fooddeserts/


http://www.cdc.gov/features/fooddeserts/




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as lower operating costs, maximizing profits.14

Demand for lower prices and convenient locations has allowed for a large corporation to open up large supermarkets. These supermarkets are usually outside of urban areas, requiring a vehicle for transportation. These stores require a lot of space in order to house a large parking lot, and at least, 25,000 square feet of usable space inside the store. These stores pride themselves on being the one stop shop for all of their costumers’ needs. Supermarkets set up in areas where money is very prominent however, this then limits the demographics of their customers.15 Urban grocery stores are unable to provide their customers with the parking, variety, and prices that are available with the larger grocery stores. As a result, many smaller grocery stores have to close, leaving food deserts throughout a city.16

Food deserts primarily occur in areas that low socioeconomic status is high. Land is usually more readily available in suburban areas, which means that they can have a larger store for a lower cost then in urban areas. This also means the larger stores will be more cost effective for the corporation as a whole, thus increasing their profits.17 When a small local grocery store closes, the consequence is a decline in access to

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15 Ibid.

16 Ibid.

17 Ibid.

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fresh, healthy food, and thus a decline in the standard of living.18

Most individuals will shop at grocery stores that offer the most variety at competitive prices. When living in a food desert, convenience stores are the primary source of food. Foods such as pop, potato chips, and bags of candy will be the most prominent and affordable selections at these stores. Fresh food, such as fruits and vegetables, tend to be less available when shopping at a neighbourhood convenience store. 19 Prices at convenience stores are usually higher than those of a grocery store as well. Those living within a food desert will have to spend more money in order to get less nutritious food to eat. In London, individuals will pay an average of 1.6 times more on the same food when that is brought at a convenience store versus at a supermarket.20

A healthy diet contains access to a safe and nutritious food supply. The health of individuals can be measured by recording the food that is being and then determining the nutrition values.21 A healthy diet has the ability to lower the risk of many different chronic diseases. The majority of health problems can be linked back to a person’s diet. A poor diet usually lacks the essentials of fruits and vegetables. In the GTA, 43 percent of adults cannot afford to eat balanced meals.22 Individuals, who are living within a food desert, usually have diets that contain a great volume of sugary and high fat food. This can lead to health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and even some forms of cancer. The health problems associated with a poor diet are putting a greater strain on the health care system. Many of these diseases have the ability to be improved through a change in diet. Thus it is extremely important for

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18 Ibid.


20 Ibid.

21 Health Canada. Food and Nutrition Surveillance. May 30, 2007. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/index-eng.php


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everyone to have the ability to have healthy food options to choose from.23

Food deserts also create “environmental inequality.” This is when a neighbourhood has a disproportion in desirable and undesirable characteristics. The cost of living is usually lower for the areas that are filled with undesirable characteristics. Pollution, toxic waste, and locally unwanted land uses are usually also within areas of food deserts. There are disadvantaged individuals such as the elderly, unemployed, disabled, and lone-parent households, living within these areas throughout cities. 24

East and Central London are two examples of where food deserts exist within the City of London. These two areas account for the lowest level of supermarket access within the city. As a result of their location, the poorest individuals are left with the highest costs for food in the city.25

Food Poor Economists would define an individual who is in poverty through economic terms. By measures of economic worth and possessions, a precise definition of minimum level of economic resources an individuals or a family would need to survive on. Low Income Cut Off (LICO) is the measure

that Canada uses to determine the measure of poverty in Canada. However, this definition does not take into account the way in which individuals spend their money.26 Within western industrial countries, poverty can mean living

within an unsafe neighbourhood, being socially isolated, or lacking vital necessities.27 Individuals may opt to spend more on housing to stay away from an unsafe neighbourhood. In exchange for this, they may end up having to sacrifice in other areas such as nutritious food. Within the context of the London Food Bank, poverty will also take into

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24 Ibid.

25 Ibid.

26 Robert Haveman, Robert. "What does it mean to be poor in a rich society?" Institute for Research on Poverty 26, no. 2 (Fall 2009): 81-82.

27 Ibid.

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concentration those who can also be classified as being “Food Poor.”

“Food Poor” can be described as being individuals who are not eating or cannot afford to eat nutritious food.28 Food poor is not just about how much money you make but it is also about the type of food that you eat. Those who cannot afford to eat nutritiously balanced for the majority of their meals can thus, be classified as being food poor. When individuals come into the food bank, there will be many that will be within this classification. It is thus, the food bank that will be able to provide the nutritious options to these individuals. Using a food bank should not mean that you are provided with only non-perishable food. It should also mean that you are provided with fresh food that will aide in a healthy diet.

Iron, vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin A, are all essential dietary components. They help to support healthy body functions such as muscle, bone heath, immune system, and the ability to repair tissue. An individual lacking these nutrients may find that they are unable to

focus, energy and the ability for the body to fight off illness.29 It can be stated that a person without these essentials nutrients within their diets, can be classified as being food poor. Food banks need to ensure that they are providing food to their clients but also, that the food that is being supplied will contain nutritiously balanced food. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best way to ensure that these essential nutrients are within a healthy diet. However, the price of fresh produce has made them an unrealistic item in many diets. Many families are unable to afford, the recommended daily amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.30 Health Canada states that males between the ages of 19 to 50 should be eating between 8 to 10 servings each day. Females in this same age category should be eating 7 to 8 servings.31 Even though Health Canada makes these recommendations, for those living on a fixed or low income find these targets unrealistic.

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28 Food Bank for New York City. "The Need for Nutrution in Food Banks." Food Bank for New York City. Aug. 2009. http://www.foodbanknyc.org/files//dmfile/TheNeedForNutritioninFoodBanks.pdf


30 Ibid.

31 Health Canada. Food and Nutrition. May 2, 2007. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/basics-base/quantit-eng.php

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City of London The London Food Bank is following in the same direction as the City of London. The city, just introduced a food charter that is focused on food security for all Londoners. Food security exists “when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”32 It is the goal of the charter to help to eliminate poverty through connections with local community groups and increasing healthy eating. The city would like Londoners to become more aware of what they are eating, how it is made, and the nutritional values that are contained in the food we eat.33 The charter also focuses on eating locally grown food. Locally grown is considered to be anything that is grown in the province of Ontario, however, there is a specific focus for produce grown in southwestern Ontario.34 The London Food Bank will be working together with the

city to help to fulfill this charter’s mandate. By providing the clients of the food bank healthy, local food options, it will be the hope that individuals will receive the nutrients they require to have a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Community Harvest ElsewhereThe Ontario Association of Food

Banks created the Community Harvest initiative. The London Food Bank is just one of the five food banks that are

currently participating in this program. Community Harvest is province wide with Hamilton, Greater Toronto, Ottawa, Thunder Bay and London all participating. These food banks’ are partnering with their local farmers

to deliver fresh health food for individuals in need. The goal for Community Harvest is to provide a greater volume of fresh, healthy and local food to Ontarians in need of assistance from food banks.35 This program encourages farmers to grow, glean and

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32 Child and Youth Network. London's Food Charter. http://www.lcrc.on.ca/London's_Food_Charter_One_Pager.pdf

33 Child and Youth Network. London'd Food Charter. http://foodnetontario.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Londons-Food-Charter-Booklet-Style.pdf

34 Ibid.

35 Ontario Association of Food Banks. About Community Harvest Ontario. 2010. http://oafb.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=ch_about

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donate. Farmers can: donate land to grow crops specifically for the food bank, allow volunteers to come into their fields to glean fields after the harvest season, or donate access produce that would other wise be tilled back into the soil.36

Ottawa Food Bank The Ottawa Food Bank has partnered with the Ontario Association of Food Banks to bring the Community Harvest program to Ottawa. The food bank has partnered with a couple of farms in order to grow carrots and potatoes that will be grown, then harvested specifically for the food bank. The growing project of carrots alone yielded over 9,000 pounds. In addition, the food bank was also able to glean almost 20,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables from farmer’s fields.37

In addition to Community Harvest, the Ottawa Food Bank administers a City Harvest program as well. This program partners with local restaurants, retirement homes, and food services providers as a means to obtain fresh food within the community. Once food is collected, this program then distributes nutritiously prepared meals throughout the city to their member agencies.38

Fresh Harvest is another program that the food bank is currently running. This program allows the Ottawa Food Bank the ability to offer fresh produce year round. With daily visits to grocery stores around the city collecting meat, produce, bakery items and deli goods. Once food is collected, it is then distributed to different member agencies throughout the city. Approximately 50,000 pounds of food is collected and then distributed through this program each month in Ottawa, allowing the Ottawa Food Bank the opportunity to provide fresh, nutritious food to those are in need within their community.39

Second Harvest- Toronto Food is something that everyone needs but not everyone might be able to afford it. This was the belief that led to the creation of Second Harvest in 1985. Plain and simple, the purpose of Second Harvest is to distribute food that other wise would be wasted to those within Toronto who are hungry. By collecting food that would other wise be wasted, they are able to distribute it to those within the community who are in need. Grocery stores and restaurants are donating their excess to this program.

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36 Ibid.

37 Ottawa Food Bank. Keeping Things Fresh. 2010. http://ottawafoodbank.ca/programs/community-harvest/

38 Ottawa Food Bank. Keeping Things Fresh. 2010. http://ottawafoodbank.ca/programs/community-harvest/

39 Ottawa Food Bank. Fresh Food All Year Long. 2011. http://ottawafoodbank.ca/programs/fresh-harvest/

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Currently, Second Harvest delivers to more than 200 community agencies in Toronto.40 The food that they rescue is primarily perishable goods. Fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, milk, and juice, are just some of the foods that are collected and distributed across the greater Toronto region.41

This program however, is a food rescue program and not a food bank and it not part of the Ontario Association of Food Banks. This operation functions on a very fast 8 to 48 hours turnover rate; from the time food is rescued to the time it reaches a recipient agency. These times lines are very important for food rescue programs because it ensures that the products these agencies are receiving will still have some shelf life to them. Second Harvest supplies many meal programs within the GTA. This allows the program to be able to move large volumes of product very quickly since it will be used within a 24-hour period of time.42

Second Harvest has seven different refrigeration trucks that are in use five days a week. On the weekend, there are two trucks that doing pick-ups and deliveries. During the week, there are six different routes where they do pick ups and two routes delivering food to member agencies. 43 This is a different program than the one that the London Food Bank is

working on. Second Harvest has able to thrive in a large city like Toronto and might not generate the same results if transferred to London. They have the ability to work with not only grocery stores but also with large warehouse distribution centres that will provide them with much of the excess produce. London however, does not have access to these distribution centres. As a result, it would make sense for a city like London to focus on a different area where they have specific advantages. Unlike Toronto, there are many farms within the outlining area that have the ability to donate produce that is unsalable or unused. This major asset is not readily available within the urban centre of Toronto.

Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank The Daily Bread Food Bank is the main hub for roughly 170 member agencies in Toronto. These agencies run

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40 Second Harvest. History of Second Harvest. 2010. http://www.secondharvest.ca/history-timeline

41 Second Harvest. Food Rescue. 2010. http://www.secondharvest.ca/cycle-of-work

42 Second Harvest. “Second Harvest Food Donation Programs Illustrated.” Food Donor Information. Second Harvest. Toronto, Ontario. 2011. Page. 2.

43 Second Harvest. Direct Delivery. 2010 http://www.secondharvest.ca/direct-delivery

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neighbourhood food banks, and meal programs. It is their mission to fight to end hunger within the communities that they serve. In an average month 73,000 clients will seek assistance from them.44 The Toronto Daily Food Bank from was able to serve over 1,082,000 families between April 2010 and March 2011.

The statistics of hunger are staggering. In the GTA alone, 46 percent of adults claim that there have been days where they have not been able to afford to eat. In an average weak there can be up to 40 percent of all adults and 19 percent of all children that will be going hungry at least once a week. Hunger does not discriminate. Every nationality, race, gender, and age can be victims of hunger. Out of all of the clients that are helped by the food banks, 36 percent of them are children.45

The Daily Bread Food Bank also works with agencies to provide nutritious meals to their clients in need, understanding hungry is often times a result of poverty. Thus, Individuals who cannot afford to buy nutritious food are in poverty. The cycle of poverty is

exacerbated by the need for affordable housing, full time job opportunities, retraining programs, affordable childcare, and medical care. These barriers may make it impossible for nutritious food to be attainable. While nutritious food should be a right, thus it turns into a privilege.46

This food bank is very similar to the London Food Bank. The majority of food collected and distributed throughout the community is through the generous donations that citizens donate in food drives. This food is then distributed throughout the network of agencies that the food bank supports. The Daily Bread Food Bank also receives supplement donations by the Second Harvest, which allows fresh products that can be distributed to their clients or agencies. However, there is one major difference, Daily Bread has the ability to run programs where food can be prepped onsite. Product thus, has the ability to be moved product faster than it would happen at the London Food Bank.47

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44 Daily Bread Food Bank. "Fighting Hunger: Annual Report." 2010/2011. http://www.dailybread.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DBFB-2011AnnualReport-FINAL.pdf


46 Daily Bread Food Bank. "Fighting Hunger: Annual Report." 2010/2011. http://www.dailybread.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DBFB-2011AnnualReport-FINAL.pdf

47 Daily Bread Food Bank. “Catering Kitchen.” Daily Bread Food Bank. 2011http://www.dailybread.ca/about/catering-kitchen/

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Food Bank for New York CityThe Food Bank for New York City

is one of the largest food banks in the United States. For the last 28 years, it has been committed to battling against the shortage and lack of food that people are experiencing and other problems that occur when individuals are eating unhealthy. The food bank is working to eliminate hunger on three fronts: food distribution, income support and nutrition education. This food bank supports more than 1,000 community-based agencies in programs and works together with them to delivery approximately 400,000 free meals each day. The food bank helps more than 3 million individuals each and every year.48 The Food Bank receives support from corporations, the food industry, the government, non-profit, restaurants, and liberty partners. 49

New York has more than 3 million individuals living within low-income neighbourhoods. Living in these neighbourhoods, there is limited access to nutritious food on a regular basis. With the price of nutritious food skyrocketing, there are an ever-growing number of middle class and low-income families

who have the inability to afford nutritious food for their families. This has put an even larger strain on the Food Bank for New York City. With more individuals than ever in need and using their services, donations have been decreasing, and more individuals are being forced to depend on low cost food.50

In addition to combating hunger, the Food Bank for New York is also concerned with obesity rates that continue to be increasing. A study conducted by this food bank indicates that obesity rates were over 50 percent within New York. However, those rates were the most predominate amongst the lower income population. Individuals were 1.3 times more likely to be overweight or obese when living within a lower income area. With health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer on the rise, obesity cannot be ignored any longer.51 This correlates with the study that was conducted by Jason Gilliland and Kristian Larsen. Individuals living within the lower socioeconomic regions do not have the same access to grocery stores and nutritious food. The only way for this problem to be rectified would be for there

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48 Food Bank For New York City. About the Food Bank. 2010. http://www.foodbanknyc.org/about-the-food-bank

49 Food Bank for New York City. Our Partners. 2011. www.foodbanknyc.org/about-the-food-bank/our-partners

50 Food Bank for New York City. "Poverty in NYC." 2011. http://www.foodbanknyc.org/food-poverty-in-nyc


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to be access to affordable nutritious food that would be within a reasonable location from where they live.52

It is the hope of the Food Bank for New York City that by improving the food quality of the food bank, they may also be addressing one of the root problems of obesity. This in return would also help to reduce some of the health care cost, such as those associated with diseases that arise from poor eating habits. The focus of this food bank is to provide food that is either not affordable or not accessible to those within the community.53 This food bank’s mission is very similar to what the Food Bank of London is trying to accomplish. Though they are not focused on reducing the obesity rate, they do understand that this might in turn be a result. With a focus on providing the nutritious elements that might be mission from the average client’s

diet, it may help them to improve their health as well.

Los Angeles Regional Food BankThe state of California has also

turned toward the fresh model as well. The produce distribution for the food banks in California is to connect growers and packers, to the food banks. Originally, food banks received produce from farmers that was of second quality. However, in recent years, farmers were able to find a market for their second quality produce, which reduced the availability of produce for

food banks. Faced with this decline, California food banks were looking to new avenues to receive produce. Food banks then discovered that farmers were forced to dispose of their surplus inventory as well as their cosmetically blemished produce. This is now the produce that is distributed throughout California.54

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is a participant of both the American

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52 Jason Gilliland and Kristian Larsen. "Mapping the Evolution of "Food Deserts" in a Canadian City: Supermarket Accessibility in London, Ontario 1961-2005.”


54 California Association of Food Banks. "Farm to Family Out the Door: A Food Bank’s guide to Produce Distribution in California ." http://www.cafoodbanks.org/docs/F2F_Out_The_Door.pdf

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Second Harvest program and Feeding America. Their mission is to mobilize resources to fight hunger in their communities. They distribute food to over 1,000 different agencies throughout Los Angeles County.55 They receive, sort and house large volumes of donated food that the agencies themselves would otherwise be unable to store. Sorting the produce allows them to dispose of any produce that has already expired and to separate and classify the remaining produce. This allows agencies the ability to select and receive only what they need. 56

The Los Angeles’ Food Bank helps all those who are in need, of which 42 percent of the households served either have one or two individuals working. Lost Angeles has a very high cost of living, which has lead many families to choose between buying groceries, and paying rent. While this happens in many communities throughout North America, it

should be a decision that never has to be made.57

Feeding AmericaFeeding America is the United

States’ largest non-governmental, domestic hunger relief program.58 The mission of Feeding America is to feed the hungry in America by building a network of food banks and engaged the country in the fight to end hunger. Through partnerships with national and local food assistance programs, they are able to provide nutritious, fresh food to those who are hungry. Feeding America is also committed to providing a safe place where children can receive a nutritious meal. They work together as a means to try and end the cycle of poverty and hunger for individuals by helping to make adults self sufficient.59

Feeding America also has network programs to help to support these goals.

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55 Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. "How the Food Banak Works." 2011. www.lafoodbank.org/about-us/how-the-foodbank-works.aspx

56 Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Frequently Asked Questions. 2011. www.lafoodbank.org/frequently-asked-questions.aspx

57 Ibid.

58 Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. "How the Food Banak Works." 2011. www.lafoodbank.org/about-us/how-the-foodbank-works.aspx

59 Feeding America. "Program and Services." How we Fight Hunger. 2011. http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services.aspx

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The Mobile Pantry, SNAP Outreach, National Produce and Disaster Relief, are all programs that help to provide nutritious to those in need.60 The National Produce Program was developed as a means to increase the capacity of fresh food that can be distributed through the program. In recent years, this program has grown and has now become the main category of food that they want to distribute.61

Partnerships with growers and industry experts as allowed the ability for them to attain access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Since this produce is gathered earlier in the supply chain, there is an increase in the freshness of the produce. Through the Feeding America network, they have the ability to deliver an average of 2 million pounds of fresh produce to those in need each and very week. In 2010, an estimated 125 millions pound of fresh produce was distributed through this network. 62

Similarities of Food Banks Food banks were created as a temporary solution to elevate some hunger in communities around Canada and the

United States. However usage has only increased since the start of the economic downturn in 2008, demand has drastically gone. With this increase of clients, food banks are focused to think of new ways of ensuring that they are providing these individuals with nutritious food. These food bank and rescue programs all looked

to fresh produce as alternatives. The success of a program lies within the implementation process, and these programs have been deemed successful.

The focus of these food banks has been primarily on food delivery to those who are hungry. But as discussed earlier a definition of hungry is not simple. One cannot just look at it as not having access to food but it also means that one does not have access to nutritious food. With the increase of clients using their services, food banks are forced to think of new ways of ensuring individuals are receiving proper nutrition. The need for emergency food increase and donations either staying the same or slightly decreasing, food banks are unable to continue to operate in their same ways.

There is also the new reality that food banks also need to look after those

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60 Feeding America. "Network Programs." How we Fight Hunger. 2011. http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/network-programs.aspx

61 Feeding America. "National Produce Program." How we Fight Hunger. 2011. http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/network-programs/national-produce-program.aspx

62 Feeding America. "National Produce Program." How we Fight Hunger. 2011. http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/network-programs/national-produce-program.aspx

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whom can be considered the working poor. There is an ever-increasing amount of individuals, who are working, yet, still find themselves in poverty. The majority of these individuals are employed full time, however, they are unable to afford their increases to the cost of living. With the lack of affordable housing, skyrocketing food costs, medical prescriptions, and childcare, many clients of food banks, find that they still do not have enough to make ends meet. With health costs on the rise, these individuals will not be able to afford the health consequences that come from unhealthy food choices.

Poverty is everywhere. It is in every city, large and small. There is a need from there to be a sustainable measure put in place in order to ensure that those living in poverty are receiving the food and nutrition needed to live and maintain a healthy active live style.

Benefits of Eating Local There are many benefits from eating and buying local produce. When local products are used it reduces the environmental impact, less packing is used and there is less transportation between the producers to consumers. A shorter traveling time means that produce will be at the table in a shorter period of time. The vitamins and minerals that are found naturally in fresh produce decrease

with age. Thus the faster produce is eaten after the leave the field, the more nutrients will be found in them. Less time in transit means that food will be healthier, fresher and taste much better.63 The food bank engaging in a Community Harvest program will mean that individuals will be able to receive fresh local produce as well as receiving the nutrients that may otherwise be missing from their normal diet.

There are places that have been established to help inform individuals as the nutritional values of common foods that they would eat. In Canada, the Canadian Nutrient File (CNF) is a comprehensive database. It has the nutritional values of over 5,800 different foods and is accessible online.64 Every individual will be able to find the nutritional benefits that are contained in a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables they enjoy on a regular basis.

ImplementationImplementation is an extremely

important element for the Community Harvest program to focus on. Leslie Pal, in his book Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Management in Turbulent Times discusses the find balance policy implementation needs. A strong policy has the ability to fail if it is not implemented properly. The same is true for the opposite, a bad policy, can succeed if

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63 Ontario Association of Food Banks. Buy Local, Share Local. 2011. http://www.oafb.ca/blsl.html

64 Health Canada. Canadian Nutrient File. Sept 16, 2010. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/fiche-nutri-data/index-eng.php

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implemented correctly.65 As a result, the London Food Banks need to ensure that the way its policy is implement will be correct and work for both the program and the organization, once the policy problem has been identified.

The Community Harvest program will need to encourage partnerships within and outside of the community. Implementation of a policy is extremely important. Policy goals need to be set and reviewed on a regular basis, in order to ensure that it is still reaching its full potential.66 As a means for a smooth implementation, it would be recommended that particular focus be put on partnerships, storage, sanitation, quality control, and trucks. These will all be explored further in the following sections.

PartnershipsThe Community Harvest program

will not succeed without partnerships with local farmers, volunteers and the cooperation of other agencies. Local farmers are the key that will be holding this program together. It will be important to reach out and make new connections while still strengthening those that already exist. By allowing tours of the facility, it will provide a better understanding of how their donations play an important role within the food bank. It is imperative for farmers to understand how their donations are essential in providing nutritious food

to the clients of the food bank. Without their generous support, the Community Harvest program would not exist.

Secondly, volunteers will be needed to help in a variety of ways. In order to glean a farmer’s field, there needs to be volunteers. Gleaning, the process of picking the access crop that is left in the field after a season is finished. This would be a great way to bring the community together in a way that benefits others. It would also be an excellent opportunity for community organizations, businesses and citizens to come together. Volunteers will also be needed within the food bank to sort and classify the produce gathered. In order to do this, a colour and date system will need to be established. A process like this would allow for the program to decrease waste within the program. This will be discussed further in the quality control section.

Other agencies will also need to be on board with this program because without them, the food bank would not be able to move produce as quickly. There will be times when there are abundances of one or many different fresh produce. During these times, relationships need to be formed in order to distribute to these local agencies. This will also be in accordance with the City of London’s food charter because it will aid in distributing nutritious, healthy food to those in need. A network of agencies needs to be created for a fast turn around

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65 Leslie A. Pal. “Chapter 5: Policy Implementation.” Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Management in Turbulent Times. Fourth Edition. Toronto: Nelson Education, 2010. Page 206

66 Leslie Pal. Beyond Policy Analysis: Public Issues Management in Turbulent Times. (4th. Ed.) (Toronto: Nelson Education, 2010). Page 205

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of fresh volumes. By knowing when agencies will be able to take produce, then, creating a list from that information, may save time when moving produce. Thus, phone calls will not have to be randomized and a higher probability that the agencies that are first called will be able to receive product.

Storage Storage space is essential for the Community Harvest program. The proper storage of fruits and vegetables allows the nutrition and taste to stay within the fruit or vegetable and the integrity of the product will not be compromised. While some vegetables such as potatoes, onions and squash can be stored in temperatures ranging between 7 degrees and 10 degrees, others need to be in their own separate space.67

Fruits and vegetables should also be stored separately from one another. Fruits such as bananas, apples, and tomatoes, produce a gas called Ethylene. Ethylene allows for these fruits to ripen after they are harvested. It is important that the produce that contains ethylene is stored separately away from other produce. This will allow for the ethylene vegetables to ripen without the deterioration of the other produce. Produce without ethylene will last longer if they are not exposed to this gas.68 A dedicated space for fruits and vegetables

would allow for the proper storage techniques to be used, thus reducing excess rotten vegetables.

With ample cold storage, it would be the hope that less produce would be wasted because of improper storage. Produce not refrigerated will spoil more quickly. The food bank should adhere to the standards set out by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. These guidelines can be found in Appendix A. 69

Sanitary Bins To ensure that the produce collected from the farms stays sanitary, any plastic bins that are used for produce should be washed each and every time a new produce is placed within them. Bins should be rinsed and washed with both soap and water. This would reduce any cross contamination of the vegetables and also ensure the freshness of the fruits and vegetables. Also a bin should be washed after any mouldy, or rotten food is found in it. Once again, this would ensure that produce stays fresh for as long as possible while at the food bank’s facility. With the additional bins available, clean bins can always be available for new produce to be stored in. Washing of bins can occur at the end of every day so that each morning bins will be ready.

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67 Canadian Produce Marketing Association. Fruit and Vegetable Storage. 2011. http://www.cpma.ca/en/fruits-and-vegetables/UsingFruitsAndVegetables/FruitAndVegetableStorage.aspx

68 Canadian Produce Marketing Association. Fruit and Vegetable Storage. 2011. http://www.cpma.ca/en/fruits-and-vegetables/UsingFruitsAndVegetables/FruitAndVegetableStorage.aspx

69 Canadian Produce Marketing Association. Produce Storage Guide. 2011. https://www.cpma.ca/en_serv_storageguide.asp

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Quality ControlTo ensure that the produce that is

handed out to clients is at acceptable standards, quality control measures need to be put in place. All produce, whether gathered or donated, will need to be sorted based upon specific criteria. The quality of the produce is extremely important. Quality will be checked through an “A”, “B”, and “C” method. “A” classification means that produce has the longest shelf life, while “C” indicates that it needs to be moved through the food bank at the quickest rate. All “C’s” will be moved before “B’s”, with “A’s” only be used after all “C” and “B” grades are used. Classifications will be reassigned with every new shipment of produce. The classifications will change as the produce ages.

This system will help to determine how much and how long produce will last once it is within the food bank. If offers for produce come in from farmers, the system will determine whether or not there is the space or the need for a specific crop. For example, the food bank will be able to determine how long it would take for them to use one skid of peppers or how long quality “A” peppers can last in the fridge. These are important time lines that need to be established to ensure that the food bank does not become inundated within one specific product.

Trucks It is important for this program to run effectively and efficiently, that there are access to vehicles for deliveries and

pick up of produce. A refrigerated truck would be ideal for the transportation of produce, especially for the produce that needs to be refrigerated. If the truck is travelling a large distance, the produce will still be fresh when it arrives at its destination. When moving produce smaller distances or the transportation of produce for smaller distances, a non-refrigerated truck would be essential as well. With access to these trucks, the program will be able to better distribute the produce to other agencies that they serve.

Limitations The Community Harvest program, in its current state, will not be able to sustain growth. The largest limitation that is presently facing this program is inadequate refrigeration space for large volumes of produce. Once this space is full, produce has to stay out in the open warehouse. As stated before, this leads to produce meeting its expiration date much faster than if it was refrigerated. The program should have its own refrigeration system that will be able to accommodate larger volumes of produce. If the program had this, they would be able to handle more produce with less waste.

Secondly, the Community Harvest program does not have its own designated

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truck. As was shown through the example in Second Harvest, trucks are extremely important not only for the gathering of, but also the distribution of produce. The London Food Bank is continually picking up donations across the city. Community Harvest thus, must wait until these pick ups are finished in order to use a vehicle. This delay can be very costly for farmers. Most farmers do not have the storage space available to house the produce they are donating to this program. If the Community Harvest program had a program vehicle, productivity would increase. There would be less time spent waiting for a vehicle to become free. A refrigeration vehicle would be the best because it would allow longer shelf like during transportation.

Finally, the number of volunteers will need to increase as a means to sustain a growth within the program. In order to ensure quality control, there needs to be regular volunteers willing to check the quality of the produce. Volunteers are also needed helping to gather donations and glean fields. Farmers have been extremely receptive to the program and volunteers will be needed to help gather the donations from the farm. Without the help of volunteers inside the warehouse and out in the field, the program will not be able to grow.

Conclusion Nutritious food should not only belong to those who are privileged. Food, in particular healthy food, should be available to everyone. Everyone, however, does not enjoy this right. There are many

individuals within the London community especially who are unable to afford this.

Policy definitions are not simple and often times extremely more complex than originally thought. In the case of Community Harvest, in order to define a policy an understanding of the complexities surrounding the issue of Community Harvest first needed to be defined. An understanding of hunger is essential especially what it means and who were included. The definition must also look at the reasons people were hungry, are there only purely economic reasons that are the cause or as was discussed are there broader barriers that are throughout a community. Where an individual lives plays a major role in what they have available to them to eat. Grocery stores are no longer present in the downtown core, even though affordable housing can be found within that region. Those in lower socio-economic classes are forced to look to connivance stores or fast food restaurants for meals. As a result, these individuals are then forced to spend more on meals but do not receive the same nutritional requirements.

The London Food Bank is moving in the same direction as many other food banks, both inside and outside of the country. The shift towards providing healthy nutritious food to those in need is important. There is a price to healthy produce and food. Many individuals using food banks simply cannot afford these options. Food banks were established to bridge the gap by providing access to food for those in need. However, we can no longer ignore those who cannot afford nutritious food.

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If the London Food Bank introduces fresh produce to the food bank, they will be able to provide healthy alternatives to those in need. A program, like Community Harvest, will connect the food bank to the greater London community. Farmers, volunteers, and agencies, will have the ability to come together for one common goal, providing fresh, healthy food to those in need. This program will also help to move in the direction of the City of London, having a food secure city.

Community Harvest is a program that should be implemented within the London Food Bank. This program will allow the ability to serve and help those within the community who are food poor, by providing them with fresh and nutritious food. This program will also establish networks within the community for other agencies to be able to do the same. Nutritious food should not be a privilege only available for those who can afford it. The food bank should not just provide food to individuals but it should also ensure that the food they are receiving would help and encourage everyone to eat and make healthy food decisions. By choosing healthy food options, people will receive many different nutrients that are essential for the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of disease. Proper nutrition can be the first step in reducing the strain on the health care system.

In terms of the Community Harvest Program, currently being implemented at the London Food Bank, the maintenance of partnerships with local farmers, agencies and volunteers are essential. Without the willingness of

farmers to donate product to the food bank this policy will not work. If partnered agencies are unable or unwilling to receive produce the policy this time will be limited in the size that it can grow.

The London Food Bank would then only be able to collect and house the amount of produce that they would be able to use by the food bank clients alone. Finally, if there is not the volunteer base then produce will not be able to go through the quality control mechanisms that have been put in place by the policy.

This may result in increase in produce that becomes spoiled, putting additional effects on the environment for disposal. The policy will only be deemed successful if the food bank will be able to regulate these partnerships in a manageable way.

The London Food Bank also must not limit their selves to only pursuing a Community Harvest program. As discussed earlier, many food banks are engaging in different ways to ensure that fresh produce is available throughout the year in their food banks. By expanding the scope of Community Harvest to include grocery stores, more produce will be saved from landfill sites and will thus, provide meals to those who are in need. The food bank should further explore the possibilities of forming partnerships with some major grocery retailers within the city in order to explore this program as well.

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Appendix A

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Documents

LFB Fresh Food Policy