KENSINGTON – Community groups, schools, and early childhood centres will have more resources to teach Islanders about fresh, local food – including the students at Queen Elizabeth Elementary in Kensington.
Research co-ordinator Karen Murchison of the P.E.I. Certified Organic Producers Cooperative says her group will receive funding to provide Queen Elizabeth students with local and organic foods for lunch.
It is one of 17 projects receiving a total of $119,550 from the provincial government’s Community Food Security and Food Education Program (CFSFEP), which will teach youth and their families where local food comes from and how it is produced.
“We are excited to work with staff, students and parents at the school, as well as many exceptional food producers from the area,” Murchison said.
Successful projects were chosen from among 33 applications.
A committee with knowledge and experience in community food security provided recommendations.
The committee was developed based on best practices from other organizations and jurisdictions.
"We're very pleased by the enthusiasm, creativity and capacity that was demonstrated in the proposed projects,” said CFSFEP co-ordinator Bobby Thomas Cameron. “We're looking forward to sharing with Islanders the outcomes and impacts these projects will have on community food security in Prince Edward Island."
The community food security and education program is a joint effort with the province’s departments of Agriculture and Fisheries, Health and Wellness, and Education, Early Learning and Culture. It is intended to promote good nutrition and healthy food choices, build community self-reliance, link farmers to consumers, and build pride and joy in preparing foods.
“Community food security and education is a top priority for our department, and government is very pleased to support sustainable local food systems to address these priorities,” Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Alan McIsaac said. “Leaders in these projects are empowering our schools, youth, and families to build strong communities across our province.”
Visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/foodsecurity for a full list of successful applicants and more information.