Cranbrook Food Recovery and Farm Kitchen received unexpected news last week that both programs need to relocate this summer.

Since 2021, these two Community Connections Society of Southeast BC (Community Connections) programs have been co-located with the Cranbrook Food Bank.

“The news is difficult for us,” said Meredith Funston, Food Programs Coordinator. “To ensure no interruption in our services, we need to find a new location and move our operations in the next two months.”

Community Connections requires a space in Cranbrook that has:

500+ square feet;

water, gas and electrical;

parking for our Cranbrook Food Recovery van;

all hours access.

Cranbrook Food Recovery launched in September of 2019.

“Our mission is to divert unsold food and organics from grocery stores and bakeries and put it to its highest use,” Funston said.

Every day, except Christmas Day, Cranbrook Food Recovery picks up unsold food, sorts it and stores it in a commercial cooler or freezer, maintaining all health and safety measures. More than 20 local community and school programs pick up food each week to use in-house or give to their clients. The remaining food not fit for human consumption goes to local farmers as feed for livestock.

Farm Kitchen, established in 2017, supports Community Connections’ community programs as well as food-focused entrepreneurs who can rent the commercial kitchen space, large-scale equipment, and walk-in cooler and freezer space.

“Over the past six years, our kitchen has supported numerous community organizations, farmers market vendors who need a food-safe space, food-focused entrepreneurs who are scaling up their production, and farmers who need cold and frozen storage for their product,” said Sophie Larsen, Food Programs Coordinator.

Previously located downtown, Farm Kitchen and Cranbrook Food Recovery accepted an invitation in 2021, from the Cranbrook Food Bank, to move its kitchen equipment and establish operations on-site in the Cranbrook Food Bank building.

Since the 2021 move, Farm Kitchen has continued to support food entrepreneurs while also establishing a community meal program – a partnership between Farm Kitchen and Cranbrook Food Recovery. Meals are available to the community for free through many Community Connections programs or by donation to those who choose to support the organization’s operating costs. This year alone, the organization has produced and distributed approximately 20,000 meals to people in the community.

The Cranbrook Food Bank stated its plans to implement a similar program once the Community Connections’ programs are relocated

“It is incredible how many meals our programs can produce,” said Nancy Reid, Executive Director, Community Connections. “While still supplying thousands of pounds of recovered food to organizations like the Cranbrook Food Bank, Salvation Army, Street Angels, and ANKORS. The work of Cranbrook Food Recovery and Farm Kitchen allows us to build partnerships within our community to achieve our goals together.”

Community Connections also recognizes the dedicated efforts of its staff and volunteers. “Our team supports us to ensure that perfectly good food is eaten by our community, not thrown out,” said Meredith.

The organization notes that food security is a challenging issue right now and wishes the best to the Cranbrook Food Bank as it navigates these times.

The Cranbrook Food Recovery team has enjoyed supporting the Food Bank these last two years, collaborating with its staff and volunteers, and witnessing first-hand how the more than 172,500 pounds of recovered food diverted to the Food Bank has been put to good use.

Staff note a favourite memory will be stocking the “bread shed” on days the Food Bank is closed.

Relocation will come with logistical and financial challenges, but also with opportunities. Community Connections looks forward to continuing its current programming while also creating new ways to strengthen the resilience of Cranbrook’s food system.

The organization invites the public’s thoughts and ideas about this new location. The public can contact Cranbrook Food Recovery by email at [email protected].

Those who access and rely on community meals, kitchen space and program supports can be assured Community Connections, Cranbrook Food Recovery and Farm Kitchen are committed to finding a new space that will allow them to continue this important work.

Community Connections Society of Southeast BC is a non-profit organization, enhancing the well-being of the diverse people in Cranbrook and the East Kootenay.

Community Connections Society of Southeast BC

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