In an innovative approach to combating food insecurity across provinces, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Regina Food Bank have established a groundbreaking partnership that exchanges regional surpluses to diversify offerings for vulnerable populations in both cities. The collaboration, now entering its second year, demonstrates how strategic inter-provincial cooperation can strengthen Canada’s food security network.
The exchange program capitalizes on British Columbia’s abundant produce harvests and Saskatchewan’s robust grain production. Last year, Vancouver shipped approximately 45,000 pounds of fresh produce—primarily apples, pears, and berries—to Regina. In return, Regina sent back nearly 40,000 pounds of lentils, chickpeas, and other pulses that are staples of Saskatchewan agriculture.
“This partnership allows us to leverage the natural agricultural advantages of our respective regions,” explains David Long, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. “Rather than letting seasonal surpluses go to waste in one area while another region lacks those same items, we’re creating a more efficient distribution system that benefits everyone.”
The initiative emerged from discussions at the 2022 National Food Bank Conference, where leaders identified persistent challenges in providing diverse nutritional options. According to Canada News statistics, food bank usage has increased 32% nationwide since 2019, with both Vancouver and Regina reporting record demand.
John Bailey, who oversees operations at the Regina Food Bank, notes that the partnership delivers more than just food variety. “We’re seeing significant cost savings on transportation by coordinating shipments and utilizing return trips that would otherwise be empty trucks,” Bailey told CO24. “Those savings translate directly into more meals for people in need.”
The economic efficiency has caught the attention of CO24 Business analysts, who point out that the model could be replicated across Canada’s food bank network. The partnership utilizes existing transportation infrastructure and creates minimal additional overhead while maximizing the nutritional diversity available to clients.
Food security experts have praised the initiative for its focus on nutrition rather than simply calorie distribution. Dr. Melissa Chen, a nutrition policy researcher at the University of British Columbia, emphasizes that “access to a variety of foods—especially protein sources like pulses from Saskatchewan and fresh produce from B.C.—is crucial for maintaining health among vulnerable populations.”
The program has received support from several regional transportation companies that provide reduced-rate shipping as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives. This private sector involvement has been crucial to maintaining the program’s sustainability.
Both food banks report positive responses from clients. In Vancouver, where protein sources are often the most expensive food category, the influx of affordable pulses has been particularly welcome. Meanwhile, Regina families have embraced the fresh B.C. fruit that might otherwise be financially out of reach during winter months.
As the partnership enters its second year, both organizations are exploring ways to expand the model to include other food banks across Western Canada. The initiative represents a broader shift in how food banks approach their mission—moving from isolated emergency response to coordinated regional systems thinking.
As Canada continues to grapple with rising food costs and increasing food bank usage, could this model of inter-provincial cooperation represent the future of food security efforts nationwide?
