Partnership Enhances Protein Supply to Ontario's Hungry
Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) and Maple Leaf Foods Inc. have announced a partnership to donate locally grown chicken to the province's food banks.
This initiative is part of the CFO Cares: Farmers to Food Banks Program, which has been actively supporting community nutrition since 2015.
The announcement was made at the London Food Bank in the presence of Rob Flack, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, along with representatives from both organizations, food bank staff, and local farmers.
This partnership also includes Feed Ontario, the province’s largest hunger-relief organization, which helps coordinate the logistical and administrative aspects of the program.
Under the CFO Cares program, each family-run chicken farm in Ontario can donate up to 300 birds annually. These donations are processed and tray-packed by Maple Leaf Foods, ensuring easy distribution through Feed Ontario's network.
This process not only helps food banks manage resources more efficiently but also expands the program’s reach to include smaller food banks that face capacity challenges.
Contributing farmers benefit from a 25% tax credit on the fair market value of their donations, thanks to the Government of Ontario's Community food program donation tax credit.
This fiscal incentive encourages more farmers to participate and increase their contributions over time.
The need for such programs is more urgent than ever, with food bank usage in Ontario reaching record highs.
In 2024 alone, over 1 million Ontarians relied on food banks—a staggering 25% increase from the previous year and nearly double from four years ago.
This partnership underscores the commitment of Ontario's chicken farmers and Maple Leaf Foods to ensuring that every Ontarian has access to high-quality protein, even in tough times.
Photo Credit: chickenfarmers.ca