Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Being Produced Indoors Year-Round in Ottawa

Something good is growing at The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre. The new 365 Fresh program provides vegetables, fruit, and herbs to improve the health and diet of people in need of nutritious food.

“Families and individuals from lower income households are not able to afford fresh fruit and vegetables at a time when prices are going up. Living on a low income makes accessing nutritious food an ongoing challenge so we are there to assist anyone struggling to put food on the table,” says Diana Javier, Ottawa Booth Centre’s Manager of Community Service.

Vegetables and fruit will be grown using a hydroponic indoor gardening system funded through a $24,500 Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory Innovation Grant. The gardening system will be managed by Community and Family Services team members and a group of volunteers who will grow and tend to the crops for families and food bank clients.

The program ensures that low-income families and individuals still have fresh fruit and vegetables year-round at no cost. 365 Fresh will start small by growing food with two hydroponic units. More units will be added once The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre relocates to the new Centre of Hope on Montreal Road.

Easy to make recipes using food bank staples will also be provided to clients to encourage the development of healthy eating habits. Eating fresh and healthy food is a key factor in living a longer life, and is shown to improve mental health, lower cancer rates, and lower obesity.

“Families and individuals in need have enough to worry about and trying to purchase fresh food should not be one of them,” Diana says. “A huge thanks to The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory for seeing the value in this program to improve the overall health and wellness of this community.”