In late 2021, the City of Charlottetown, in partnership with Farm & Food Care PEI received funding from the provincial Climate Challenge Fund to launch the PEI Food Recovery Network. Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue charity and operator of the Second Harvest Food Rescue App, was contracted to manage the project.
Food waste is a problem nation-wide with estimates suggesting that 58% of food produced in Canada goes to waste. This results in the loss of resources and unnecessary emission of greenhouse gases. The Food Recovery Network was designed to reduce food waste on PEI and within Charlottetown by diverting surplus food from businesses to non-profits who could put it to use. The Food Recovery Network pilot project was launched in January 2022 and was completed in January 2023.
The project involved three components:
1. A study to assess and understand the scope of the food waste problem in Charlottetown.
2. A dedicated marketing and education campaign to promote the Second Harvest Food Rescue App that matches farmers, food wholesalers, and retailers who have surplus food with charitable organizations or businesses that can put that food to use.
3. The launch of a small-scale infrastructure fund that provided funds to charitable organizations who needed additional equipment to be able to effectively accept and disburse food donations.
Throughout the year long pilot project:
147,000 meals were rescued
552,960 lbs of C02 equivalent were averted
103 new users joined the Food Rescue App
Click here to read the Final Report and learn more about the outcomes of this project.
Visit www.secondharvest.ca/pei for additional information on the organization.