Evidence of meeting #35 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was waste.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bev Shipley
Welcome, everyone.
I'd like to call the 35th meeting of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food to order, please.
We're dealing with the supply chain retail sector, particularly around food waste prevention.
With us today we have by video conference from Medicine Hat, Alberta, from Prairie Gleaners Society, Mr. James Smith.
Welcome, Mr. Smith.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bev Shipley
It's great to hear you. Everything technology-wise seems to be working, so I'll turn it over to you for your presentation, please.
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Chairman, and members of the standing committee.
I'm speaking to you on behalf of all the gleaners organizations across Canada. There are currently seven of us doing essentially the same work. There are three in British Columbia, one in Alberta, and three in Ontario, two of which have only begun production this year.
To the best of our knowledge this approach where we assist to help the world's food security while reducing food waste is quite unique to Canada. Interest in modelling what we do is expanding to other parts of Canada and into the U.S.
In partnership with growers and packers, we receive unmarketable vegetables which we in turn process. We all operate on a year-round basis, receiving different vegetables that become available at different times of the year. Using a small army of volunteers, we remove any blemishes, stems and cores from the vegetables. The vegetables are mechanically diced into small uniform pieces and then dried in commercial-size dehydrators. The dehydrated vegetables are stored in 45-gallon drums until it's time to package our finished product in the final step before distribution.
Some form of legume, such as split and broken beans, peas, or lentils, are also added as protein to make up our finished packages of dehydrated vegetable mix.
Generally we package once each year, having the full complement of all available produce to mix together in three-pound quantities, sealed in plastic bags.
In fruit-producing areas of Canada, apples and pears are dehydrated using the same method. The fruit is, of course, packaged separately. The bagged product is then given to Canadian charitable organizations that are in the business of providing food aid and disaster relief around the world, and to whatever extent, requested by food banks and soup kitchens here in Canada.
In 2013 the gleaners in Canada collectively received just over three million kilograms of fresh produce that was not going to make it to market. From that, we were able to produce and distribute approximately 32 million servings of nutritious dehydrated vegetables and fruit. We define a serving as one cup of soup if our cooking instructions are followed. In 2014 we are positioned to process about four million kilograms of fresh produce. This could potentially result in approximately 43 million servings.
Our product has gone to at least 55 different nations. All this is accomplished with volunteers. Together we can boast of having harnessed over 152,000 volunteer hours in 2013.
All food must either be consumed or processed in some manner to preserve it or it will perish as waste. The method of preservation we use is dehydration, which provides the benefits of a long shelf life with no refrigeration needed, significantly reduced volume and weight that reduces the transportation requirements, and essential nutrition for the vulnerable who may not have it available otherwise.
The organization Doctors Without Borders released a report in October 2011 stating that every year “the global food aid system largely continues to provide substandard foods to millions of malnourished children.”
The nutrients in dehydrated vegetables and fruit can significantly help meet the dietary requirements of the most vulnerable.
Our hope and desire is that with the support and collaboration of the right partners, we can help address the problem of food waste in Canada.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bev Shipley
Thank you very much for your presentation, Mr. Smith.
As committee members have likely just heard, the bells will be going in 20 minutes, so I'm going to hold you pretty tight to your five minutes.
We'll start off with Mr. Payne.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Thank you, Chair.
Jim, it's good to see you again. That's twice in one week.
You have a great organization. It's good to hear about what you're doing. I had the opportunity on Saturday to come down with the Telus folks and spend a little time helping to cut up some of those veggies. Thanks very much for the tour. It was a great tour to see exactly what the process is and how it's done.
On that note, there was an article in today's paper, I think in Medicine Hat News. I don't know if you've seen it or not, but you folks have sent an amazing amount of food and nutrition around the world. I think you said 55 different countries. Not all of that comes from Medicine Hat, does it?
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
No, it doesn't.
I'm speaking on behalf of all the gleaners across Canada. We ourselves have sent to 26 different countries since we've been in operation.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
That's outstanding.
Where do you get all your product? I know where some of it comes from.
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
In our area, there's a large greenhouse growing industry: tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. A lot of culls come from that industry. There's a huge acreage of potatoes, a sweet corn industry from the Taber area, and large acreages of onions and many other field crops. We have one of the largest vegetable producers right next door to us in Redcliff that contributes to vegetable distribution on the Prairies.
We're well situated in a rich vegetable growing area. It's not just all wheat and cattle out here.
Conservative
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
That's outstanding, to make sure the food is not wasted and goes to organizations. I know you delivered—what was it—22 tonnes to the Philippines for typhoon relief.
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
That's correct. I've received numerous photos of locations where it's been distributed. It's always gratifying to our volunteers. That's really the only reward they ask for, to see where it goes.
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
We average 20 a day. Over the course of a year, well over a 1,000 individuals come out, many of them on a regular basis and some only once.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
That's outstanding.
What does it cost you to run your facility?
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
If I narrow it down to a serving, it's between three and a half to five cents, depending on the price of natural gas. Natural gas and electricity are our biggest operating costs, so it depends on the fluctuation of those rates.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
You ship around the world, so tell me about how you arrange for the shipping and who pays for it.
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
Charitable organizations that are in the business of providing food aid in other countries, particularly after some major disaster, receive it right from our door. From our door they're responsible for the shipping costs to wherever it goes in the world. We do not charge them for the food, so they just incur the transportation costs.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
I know that some food has also gone to Haiti. I believe Bob Davidson's organization has been part of that process.
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
That's right. That was our first major shipment once we were operational five years ago.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
I'm delighted we can support you in any way. Certainly the food is fit. You said you store it and you package it once a year.
Can you tell the committee how that is done?
President, Prairie Gleaners Society
We want to ensure that we have the widest variety of vegetables. As you know, everything comes in at different times of the year. Root crops come out of storage throughout the winter months and the fall crops come out of the fields. The greenhouse industry supplies us pretty much year round with those crops. By taking all the different vegetables that are available to us, we can glean the greatest variety and mixture that provides the maximum amount of nutrition.