Over 29,000 Pounds of BC Vegetables Travelled to Regina - and 22 Pallets of Prairie Staples Travelled Back.

August 4, 2026, Burnaby, B.C. – More than 29,000 pounds of B.C.-grown carrots, corn, parsley and kale left the Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s Burnaby warehouse last week, bound for Saskatchewan. Days later, 22 pallets of lentils, rolled oats, soup mix and pasta travelled in the opposite direction.

The two-way exchange between the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) and Regina Food Bank (RFB) demonstrates a simple but important point: Canada produces food in abundance, but it is not always available where communities need it. By sharing foods that are more readily available in each region, the two organizations are increasing variety while making better use of food already being grown and produced.

The GVFB sent 26 pallets of fresh B.C. produce weighing more than 29,000 pounds, including six pallets of carrots, eight pallets of corn, six pallets of parsley and six pallets of kale. After allocating produce for its regular client and agency distributions, the GVFB was able to redirect additional seasonal abundance to Regina, ensuring more available food reached communities where it could add variety.

In return, Regina Food Bank sent 22 pallets of food to British Columbia, including six pallets of bagged lentils, six pallets of rolled oats, six pallets of soup mix and four pallets of pasta. Together, the two shipments moved more than 50,000 pounds of food between British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

The collaboration shows how food banks can work beyond provincial boundaries to make better use of regional abundance and provide greater variety to the communities they support.

“People often assume food insecurity means there is not enough food. What we see is an abundance of healthy food that is not always connected to the right place at the right time. Last week, more than 29,000 pounds of B.C.-grown carrots, corn, parsley and kale left our warehouse for Regina. In return, lentils, rolled oats, soup mix and pasta travelled from Saskatchewan to British Columbia. “This is what modern food banking should look like: sharing regional strengths, working beyond provincial boundaries and building a distribution system that makes better use of the food already available. We want exchanges like this to become a regular part of how food moves across Canada-not an exception.” - David Long, CEO, Greater Vancouver Food Bank

The exchange builds on the organizations’ first cross-provincial collaboration last year, when more than 90,000 pounds of food moved between British Columbia and Saskatchewan. By repeating the exchange, the GVFB and Regina Food Bank are turning a one-time initiative into a practical model for sharing regional food abundance and increasing variety for the communities they support.

For Regina Food Bank, the exchange provides access to a greater variety of fresh B.C. produce, while foods sourced through Saskatchewan’s agricultural and food-production network support communities in British Columbia.

"Food insecurity isn't about a lack of food, it's about making sure nutritious food reaches the people who need it most," said Mary Weimer, President & CEO of the Regina Food Bank. "This partnership shows what's possible when communities work together and share their strengths. Saskatchewan is home to incredible farmers and food producers, while British Columbia has an abundance of fresh produce. By connecting those regional strengths, we're providing greater variety for the families we serve, reducing food waste, and building a stronger, more connected food system that benefits communities across Canada." - Mary Weimer, CEO, Regina Food Bank

British Columbia’s growing regions produce an abundance of fresh vegetables at different times of the year, while Saskatchewan has greater access to Prairie staples such as lentils and oats. Connecting those regional strengths helps both food banks provide foods that may otherwise be less readily available in their respective communities.

The exchange is part of the GVFB’s broader work to strengthen food distribution through partnerships with farmers, food producers, grocers and other food banks. The organization is also expanding its ability to receive, store, process and preserve fresh food so seasonal abundance can reach more communities throughout the year.

The lentils, rolled oats, soup mix and pasta received from Regina will be distributed to GVFB clients and agency partners. The fresh B.C. produce sent to Saskatchewan will provide additional variety for people supported by Regina Food Bank.

Rather than treating regional abundance and limited availability as separate challenges, the exchange connects them as part of one coordinated solution. The GVFB and RFB are continuing to explore how this model can be repeated and expanded, helping food banks share resources and build a stronger food distribution network across Canada.