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eLearning modules equip businesses for regular food donations

Second Harvest has launched a series of eLearning modules on food waste reduction. Of the available modules online, A Donor’s Guide to Food Recovery may be of particular interest to greenhouse producers.

According to the food rescue charity, this first course “is designed for food businesses to better understand the implications of food waste in Canada, and to get clarification on misconceptions regarding food donation. By taking this course, businesses will be better equipped to make regular food donations in their community.”

Producers can access the modules via training.secondharvest.ca.

“Our food procurement team is readily available to register greenhouse producers into our food rescue platform for one-off donations and regularly scheduled donations in every province and territory,” says Ashley Herod, director of marketing & communications at Second Harvest.

This project was made possible by a $75,000 Seed Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2019.

“COVID restrictions eliminated our in-person food safety and food literacy training but thanks to the OTF grant we seamlessly continued by providing virtual training using e-Learning modules in food waste audits, understanding best before dates, safe food handling and food donor education to non-profits, food donors and the public. Our sincerest thanks to the Foundation for their timely and empowering support,” says Lori Nikkel, CEO, Second Harvest.

To mark the launch of the eLearning modules, Second Harvest held a Zoom-hosted event last week, Tackling Food Waste from Field to Fork – highlighting the impact of food recovery and waste prevention on communities and the environment. Panelists included Laylo Atakhodjaeva, president of Road to Zero Waste; celebrity chef Bob Blumer; Eli Browne, Director of Corporate Sustainability at Sobeys; Mike von Massow, OAC Chair in Food System Leadership at University of Guelph; and Chef Chris Zielinski, Culinary Director and Executive Chef for all Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) properties. More than 750 people participated via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Second Harvest online education modules have been accessed by over 500 learners to date.