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Opinion: The hungry we will always have       

It is a sin to discard food that can save lives and provide healthy nutrition to growing children

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Statistics show 60 per cent of food produced in Canada ends up in landfills; about half is avoidable and can be rescued to feed hundreds of people.

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A big chunk of food is lost during harvesting, transportation and storage. Little critters account for more loss.

About 32 per cent of food waste is avoidable and many groups “rescue” food for the hungry.

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There is enough food in the world to feed everyone, but the problem is how to get the food to those hungry mouths.

Fortunately, the Food Donation Act 1994 allows retailers to donate food and distribute to others without any liability, as long as the donator distributed the product in good faith.

This act enabled wholesalers to donate surplus that would spoil to dozens of groups who feed the hungry.

A retired geologist, Mac Watson, read that millions of P.E.I. potatoes were going to rot because two fields had been found with potato wart. Potato wart is a fungus that reduces the crop yield, but is harmless to human health and safe to eat.

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He donated $15,000 to bring 50,000 pounds of bagged potatoes to the Montreal Welcome Mission, which feeds 2,500 people a week through two food banks it operates.

Watson hopes his example will inspire others to join in and help the potato farmers.

There are many heroes who bring warehouse loads of food from southern Ontario to food banks.

Harvest Algoma, in Sault Ste. Marie, collects food that would go to waste, and distributes it to more than 45 local and district food banks and agencies.

It has a commercial kitchen for food preparation, large freezers and refrigerators for fresh food and vegetables.

Algoma University Food Pantry is one recipient of Harvest Algoma; it feeds more than 40 students a week.

Harvest Algoma receives donations from retail stores, restaurants, gardens and individuals.

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The manager of Lock City Dairies drove through the night to pick up 26 skids of produce from Sysco’s warehouse and bring them back to the Sault before the produce expired.

Harvest Algoma plans to produce its own vegetables and train local individuals in gardening and producing food.

Some European countries have made it illegal to throw away food.

It is a sin to discard food that can save lives and provide healthy nutrition to growing children.

Volunteers at schools provide breakfasts for hungry children so they can concentrate on learning.

Seniors homes pack bag lunches for school kids.

So what can each of us do? We can reduce food waste by simply changing our food buying and cooking habits.

Buy smaller amounts of perishables, avoid hoarding, especially in freezers, only buy what you can use before its best-before date.

Cook in quantities you can eat at a meal to avoid leftovers; if leftovers occur, find recipes to use them.

My Mum turned black bananas into delicious fritters.

If restaurant portions are too much, order seniors portions, or share between two.

Reach Gene Monin at adios43@yahoo.com

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