A major food bank network in the province is getting a windfall from Manitoba’s pork producers.
On April 13, the Manitoba Pork Council said it would give $150,000 over three years to Harvest Manitoba. The money will be used by rural food banks to purchase both more freezers and an amount of ground pork, the organization said.
“While our job is to provide high-quality, affordable protein to the world, Manitoba pork producers are also committed to helping ensure food security here at home,” said council chair Rick Préjet.
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“We are proud to partner with Harvest Manitoba, a remarkable organization that will help us connect with communities across the province and ensure that those who are experiencing food insecurity have access to high-quality protein from right here in Manitoba.”
The council said 15 to 20 food banks in rural centres will benefit from the funds. The money will “provide food banks with the opportunity to expand their food offerings to patrons and ensure that they receive a food item that is always in short supply – a complete and nutritious protein,” an April 13 statement read.
Food bank demand rose sharply in 2022 in Manitoba and nation-wide in the face of ballooning food price inflation.
According to Harvest Manitoba’s 2021-22 gratitude report’, which provides statistics and outlines major activities of the organization, Harvest Manitoba experienced “unprecedented volumes” during the report’s window.
In March last year, the report noted, Harvest Manitoba saw its highest ever demand, with about 14,000 hampers delivered that month. It was a 40 per cent increase from the previous year.
Compared to 2019, food banks in Manitoba saw twice as much traffic, Harvest Manitoba’s Harvest Voices 2022 report said, and about a quarter of users (50 per cent more than in 2021) had jobs but were still unable to make ends meet.
The organization estimates that it now feeds about 90,000 Manitobans a month. Of the 194 member food banks covered by the network in 2021-22, 82 were rural.
The freezers and pork from the council-given funds “will allow food banks across Manitoba to provide nutritious protein to Manitobans in need,” said Harvest Manitoba’s president and CEO Vince Barletta.
“The ongoing and sustained support of Manitoba Pork helps Harvest keep up with the unprecedented demand for food across our province.”
The pork council is an “important and valued partner” for his organization, Barletta added. The producer group has contributed ground pork to the organization on a periodic basis.
