As Ontario Agriculture Week gets underway and Thanksgiving celebrations approach, Ontario's fruit and vegetable growers are once again demonstrating their commitment to local communities through a significant contribution aimed at fighting hunger and reducing food waste.
The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association (OFVGA) has announced a $25,000 donation to Second Harvest, Canada's largest food rescue organization. The contribution marks the sixth consecutive year the association has supported the charity's efforts to recover surplus food and redirect it to people and organizations that need it most.
The donation aligns with the spirit of Ontario Agriculture Week, which recognizes the contributions of farmers and the broader agri-food sector in producing safe, healthy food while supporting local economies.
For growers, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that nutritious food reaches consumers while minimizing waste throughout the food system.
"Supporting Second Harvest's work to fight hunger and cut down on food waste is one way growers give back, even as they keep up the demanding work of supplying healthy food to consumers here," said Mike Chromczak, asparagus grower and chair of the OFVGA. "Many of our members already donate produce locally throughout the year, and I am proud that this collective gift helps amplify that impact even further, especially as more Ontarians choose to buy local."
Food insecurity continues to be a major challenge for many households across Ontario and Canada. At the same time, large quantities of safe, nutritious food are lost or wasted across the supply chain.
Organizations such as Second Harvest work to bridge that gap by rescuing surplus food from farms, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and food-service operations, ensuring it reaches charities, community groups and non-profit organizations.
According to Second Harvest, the organization rescued more than 95 million pounds of food in 2025, diverting edible products from landfill and helping support vulnerable communities nationwide. The recovered food is distributed through a network of community organizations that provide meals and food assistance to individuals and families.
The latest donation from Ontario growers is expected to have a direct impact on those efforts.
"Year after year, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association has shown up for people facing hunger, and today's donation of $25,000 is another meaningful contribution, enabling us to provide enough food for 125,000 meals," said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest.
"Every dollar will go straight to rescuing more food, reduce food waste and support families and communities across Ontario. We are deeply grateful for this ongoing partnership."
As noted, many individual fruit and vegetable growers already support local food banks, community kitchens and charitable organizations throughout the year through direct donations of fresh produce. The OFVGA's annual contribution expands that impact at a provincial level, helping ensure more healthy food reaches people experiencing food insecurity.
As Thanksgiving encourages Canadians to reflect on food, family and community, the donation highlights the important role Ontario farmers continue to play beyond food production. Through partnerships focused on food recovery and hunger relief, growers are helping strengthen community food systems while reducing unnecessary waste.