Harvest Algoma wants your pumpkins

In an effort to keep perfectly good pumpkins out of the landfill, the United Way’s Harvest Algoma Food Resource Centre is launching its 4th annual Great Pumpkin Rescue.

Between Nov. 1 and Nov. 4, intact pumpkins can be dropped off at the Food Resource Centre located at 446 Second Line East, states a news release issued by the United way.

The pumpkins will be cleaned, cut, and frozen for future use.

Full text of the release follows:

Did you know that over 80,000 pumpkins are grown in Canada each year? And did you know that well over half of these pumpkins are grown for decorative purpose only?

Pumpkins are a very nutritious food source and a valuable source of nutrients for our soil, which is why United Way’s Harvest Algoma Food Resource Centre is trying to save them from going to the landfill.

United Way’s Harvest Algoma is launching its 4th annual Great Pumpkin Rescue from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5. Harvest Algoma will be accepting whole and intact pumpkins at the Food Resource Centre (446 Second Line East) in marked bins outside the building.

Pumpkins grown for seasonal décor each year are a perfectly good, edible, and nutritious food item that can be used to feed those in need. In 2018, over 7000 lbs of pumpkins were collected across the community.

“The Pumpkin Rescue is a great way to spread awareness about food waste and food rescue within our community,” Says Deron Barlow, warehouse and community outreach manager at United Way’s Harvest Algoma Food Resource Centre. “It is also a good way to get people involved and thinking about how other items might be utilized after their initial use. Any item we can rescue and use to make meals and reduce food insecurity within the community should be thoroughly explored and utilized.”

A group of dedicated volunteers sort the pumpkins for quality and whatever is salvageable is taken to the Harvest Algoma Food Resource Centre commercial kitchen. The pumpkins will be seeded, carved, roasted, and stored in the freezer to become countless muffins, cookies, breads, soups, chili and more!

Harvest Algoma can only accept whole and intact pumpkins. We invite you to compost your cut and decorated Jack ‘o Lantern at the GFL bin located in the Cambrian Mall parking lot after 8:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1 and no later than Friday, Nov. 5 at 4:30 p.m. when the bin will be removed.

Join us in this food rescue effort to educate our community about reducing food waste and helping us to create delicious food to feed those in need. Helping others can be delicious!