$100K worth of vegetable plants delivered across Metro Vancouver to address food insecurity
Thirty-thousand vegetable plants valued at $100,000 were delivered across Metro Vancouver over the weekend in an effort to address food insecurity.
Urban Roots Garden Market, which operates seven pop-up garden markets, donated and delivered the goods to more than 30 community gardens, kitchens and schools in the region.
The donation also included floral plants designed to attract bees because several foods require pollination.
"We have the resources and I believe the obligation to take care of our neighbours in need," said Urban Roots Garden Market CEO Bill Brar, in a news release.
"Growing plentiful and high-quality vegetables can have an exponential impact in providing good quality food to hungry families."
It's a message that is being echoed by Ron Murphy, the general manager of Urban Roots.
"There's a lot of concern about the food channel. We do a very good job in growing the different varieties and we wanted to make sure the products got out to hands and to educate people in regards to how they can take care of their food channel moving forward," Murphy told CTV News in an interview Saturday.
United Way Lower Mainland, Kanaka Creek Elementary and Pitt Meadows Community Garden were just some of the recipients of the donation.
Urban Roots said food insecurity is not a new issue in Metro Vancouver and community gardens are an important part of the solution.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.