Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, on behalf of Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today highlighted Government investment of up to $10.8 million through the Surplus Food Rescue Program to the Fisher River Cree Nation (FRCN).
The Fisher River Cree Nation of Northern MB will rescue up to 1.4 million pounds of freshwater fish caught from inland lakes of Canada. Working with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, the surplus product will be distributed to more than 75 Indigenous communities throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the North.
The innovative Surplus Food Rescue Program is a $50 million federal initiative designed to address urgent, high volume, highly perishable surplus products falling under horticulture, meat and fish and seafood. More than $15.5 million has been allocated for the fish and seafood industry. This means 2.6 million pounds of fish and seafood, including walleye, salmon, tuna sole and pollock, scallops, and blue mussels will be purchased and distributed to families and organizations across Canada.
These surpluses were created because the COVID-19 pandemic largely shutdown the restaurant and hospitality industry, leaving many producers without a key market for their food commodities. Ten per cent of the food purchased through the program have been designated for Northern populations.
The Program awarded contributions to eight organizations that leverage existing food redistribution and recovery networks and agencies, who will bring the food to every region in the country. Partners, which include leading not-for-profits such as Food Banks Canada and Second Harvest, will redistribute products such as potatoes, fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, and more.
Source : Canada.ca