A Wholesale Program To Ensure Everyone Can Afford Fruits And Vegetables

Chaleur Eat Fresh was born out of the question, “what could make life better for the people of the Chaleur Region?

Every couple of years, the Chaleur Regional Service Commission holds public consultations where they ask different groups in the region, “what’s a challenge for people?” and they aim to find a solution. 

One of the major issues seven years ago when this program began, which is still an issue today, was the rising cost of food. Especially healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.

“So, we decided to make fruits and vegetables affordable and easily accessible,” says Jessica Poirier, Project Manager at the CRSC.

The Community Development Department came up with the idea of a bulk buying program from a wholesaler in Fredericton. Jessica takes all the orders, and on the second Wednesday of each month it is Eat Fresh Days. 

The fruits and vegetables get delivered to the Chaleur Region, and with the help of some wonderful volunteers, they pack up all the bags, and then distribute the food around the region.

The bags are priced at $15 each, whereas a similar bag at the grocery store would cost around $35. 

The program is delivering approximately 550 bags a month, and Jessica is hopeful of getting that number up to 600.

“We want people to know that this program is open to everyone,” says Jessica. 

Jessica also tries to support local whenever she can, with this project, but admits that there are certain foods and certain times of the year where you just can’t get everything local. With the quantities and the different assortment of foods, it would be impossible.

But she makes sure that if the food is available in New Brunswick, that’s where she gets it.  

Jessica says the work is interesting and gratifying. “At the end of the day, you help people.”

Chaleur Eat Fresh now has a website where you can place your order here: https://connectchaleur.ca/home/ and you can also visit their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/mangerfraischaleureatfresh

They have eight pickup locations between Jacket River and Allardville. Plus, they deliver, if you cannot make it to one of the locations.

This is an amazing program, and I’m thankful to Jessica Poirier for taking the time to sit down with us and share this story.

Here’s another edition of the Northern Heat Report. The place you come to listen to the stories that have not yet been discovered.