With harvest pretty well completed in the area, some producers are looking to fill more than their own bins.
Simpson Seeds makes a point of donating some of its product to charity.
“We participate in it because we feel it ties in with what our corporate values are. We have corporate values that are integrity, family, quality and innovation,” said Elyce Simpson Fraser, a trader at Simpson Seeds who works in business development. “It’s a very good way to extend those values that we have to be able to feed people, not just through our exports but through that type of donations.”
There are three different donations the company does — a provincial load of lentils to the bakery in Kyle, Sask., a national load with the program Gleanings for the Hungry and, when possible, an international load distributed through an organization with the Victory Church ministry.
She said the company’s participation with Gleanings for the Hungry is the major charity it works with.
The program is a widespread, non-profit organization with strategically placed locations to distribute different foods. Simpson Seeds ships a total of 130 tonnnes per year on a “fairly steady basis every couple of months,” she said.
“They ship loads of mixed lentils and they typically go down to the States,” said Simpson Fraser, adding that there are some networks for distribution in Canada.
“The organization disperses them to orphanages and shelters for women and children.”
For more information, see an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
