5 Ways BC Farmers Partner with the GVFB
Over the past two years, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) has been hard at work, cultivating fresh and innovative ways to partner with local farmers to rescue imperfect produce and distribute it to people in need. In 2024, our total inbound rescued fresh food went from 227,148 pounds the previous year to 2,126,211 pounds! This change represents an incredible 836% increase that would not have been made possible without the BC Farmer’s Tax Credit. If you are a farmer (or farm representative) looking to learn more about the reciprocal benefits of the farmer tax credit, we can help! Here are just five of the ways that BC farmers partner with the GVFB.
1. Donating Surplus Produce for Tax Credits
Farmers can donate surplus crops to the GVFB and benefit from both the BC Farmer’s Tax Credit and a goods-in-kind tax receipt. The combined federal and provincial tax credits allow farmers to receive up to 54% of the value of their donation back as a reduction on their taxes. By donating fresh food, such as fruits, vegetables, or other agricultural products that might otherwise go to waste, farmers can support the local community while also reducing their taxable income.
2. Direct Donations of Meat and Fish Products
In addition to fruits and vegetables, farmers who raise livestock or operate fish farms can donate meat products, such as poultry, beef, fish, or pork, to the GVFB. The farmer tax credit also applies to the donation of animal products, ensuring farmers can still apply for both the federal and provincial tax credits for donating protein-rich foods to those in need. These donations help diversify the GVFB’s offerings and provide families with more balanced, local, and nutritious meals.
3. Partnering with GVFB for Ongoing Programs
Farmers can also participate in initiatives directly led by the GVFB. These programs, created in partnership with Healthy Plates Canada and registered dieticians, may involve donations for schools, community kitchens, or other outreach projects, including our initiatives to provide healthy food to babies, preschoolers, grade schoolers, and seniors. Farmers help further the food bank’s mission of providing healthy food for those in need by providing food for these essential programs.
4. Create a Lasting Legacy in the Community
Some farmers may choose to enter long-term, ongoing partnerships with the GVFB, where they commit to donating a regular portion of their harvest (e.g. weekly, monthly, or seasonally). These long-term donations can help ensure that the GVFB has a consistent supply of fresh, local produce and contributes to the community for years, sometimes decades. Farmers and greenhouse growers can consistently benefit from the Farmer’s Tax Credit over time by formalizing the donation commitment.
5. Working with the GVFB to Create Agricultural Education and Food Preservation Initiatives
Farmers can partner with the GVFB by supplying fresh, surplus produce that the GVFB can process into shelf-stable products that don’t require refrigeration. Freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, dehydrated grains and herbs, and freshly squeezed juices can all be stored and distributed without the need for cold storage, making them ideal for remote or resource-limited communities. This partnership could include setting up mobile processing units, engaging farmers’ markets, participating in local workshops on food preservation offered by the GVFB, or establishing distribution channels to send preserved goods to these areas. Farmers and the GVFB can use these methods to ensure a steady supply of nutritious food that reaches even the most distant communities, reducing food waste, improving food security, and shoring up a revenue stream with food that would have been left in the field.
Hungry for more?
To learn more about and get involved with the exciting and evolving work we are doing in partnership with local growers through the BC Farmer Tax Credit and other areas, visit the Industry Food Donations and BC Farmer Tax Credit pages of our website!
