EDMONTON — It’s been a tough growing season for farmers and producers across the province, but one group is donating the sales of its canola crop in hopes of putting an end to world hunger.
Organizers of the ‘Share the Harvest’ growing project came together Saturday to harvest their canola crop in a field just east of Gibbons. Proceeds from the sale of the crop will be donated to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, an organization that works to end hunger in developing countries.
“It’s Canadians sharing what they have with those who don’t have, halfway across the world,” said Terence Barg, Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s regional coordinator in Alberta.
“Feeding people and ending hunger is our goal,” he said, “helping people where they don’t have access to food, whether it’s due to conflict or drought or they’ve been displaced from conflict.”
The canola crop was grown on 150 acres of donated land, with donated seed, fertilizer and herbicides. Those harvesting the crop on Saturday also donated their time, with the help of 12 donated combines.
“It’s a great time to spend time with the community and celebrate the harvest being done and celebrate the fact that we can share our abundance with those around the world that need help,” said Shaun Galloway, director of the local Share the Harvest chapter.
“We just feel that we live in a land of abundance and that there’s a lot of need around the world and we have something that we can share with those people.”
Galloway estimates they’ll make $100,000 from this year’s crop. With the help of federal government grants, Galloway said that will be turned into $500,000.
The local Share the Harvest chapter is one of over 200 similar groups in Canada who support the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Last year, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank provided over $41 million of assistance for 1.1 million people in 39 countries.
Comments