By Maureen Kirkpatrick, Second Harvest

Globally, the need for action on food security is urgent. In Canada, 1 in 4 people face hunger — the highest level ever recorded.

In advance of World Food Day, taking place on October 16, 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted that the tools, knowledge and resources exist to end hunger, but what is needed most is unity: solidarity across borders, sectors and communities.

The natural partnership between COTA members and Second Harvest highlights how local and national action can reflect this global call for solidarity.

Since March 2018, COTA members have collectively donated over 3.88 million lbs of surplus organic food to Second Harvest- Canada’s largest food rescue organization.   Instead of being lost to distribution system gaps, this perfectly good food was rescued and redirected to nourish communities across Canada.

By keeping good food in circulation, COTA members and Second Harvest are demonstrating ecological stewardship in practice. Every pound of rescued food helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserves the resources used to grow it and reduces the strain on landfills.

Moreover, these efforts show that reducing food waste is not only an environmental priority, but also a social and ethical imperative.

Fairness is central to both the organic movement and Second Harvest’s work. Through its redistribution network, rescued food reaches thousands of community organizations that support Canadians facing hunger. Thanks to the generosity of COTA members, good organic food, grown with care for the environment, reaches families, seniors and children who need it most.

This year’s World Food Day theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” calls for collective action to build food systems that nourish people and protect the planet. COTA members and Second Harvest embody this vision, showing that when we ensure good food reaches those who need it, we not only care for the resources that grew it, but strengthen communities and create a more sustainable, equitable food future for all.

If you have surplus ingredients or finished goods, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Maureen Kirkpatrick, Director of National Foodraising at Second Harvest, maureenk@secondharvest.ca

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