The head of an initiative that gleans produce from southern Alberta greenhouses and gardeners to support poor communities around the world is our Inspiring Albertan.
The Medicine Hat area produces millions of tons of vegetables every year and a lot of that produce would go to waste if it wasn't for the Prairie Gleaners Society.
The charitable organization takes produce that isn't quite perfectly formed but otherwise in excellent condition and dehydrates it.
The vegetable packs are then distributed to needy people in many countries with the help of partner relief and aid organizations.
The society was founded nine years ago by a small group, headed by James Smith, and runs almost entirely on volunteer labour.
“The backbone of our volunteers are the retired population here but we do get a lot of groups from every school in this area and 4-H clubs, Girl Guides and so on,” said Smith.
Smith says greenhouses and market gardeners loved the idea from the very beginning.
“Before we even started we had a number of local growers and producers when they just heard of the fact that we were gonna start this they called us up and said, we want to contribute and it's been like that ever since,” he said.
Ken Martens is the plant manager and only paid employee and says Smith is a visionary.
“He's been to different parts of the world, has seen the need first hand. He's aware of the production that we have in this area and the availability of surplus product,” said Martens.
Walter Lietz volunteers at the plant and says he experienced hunger as a young boy in post-war Germany, and that’s what motivates him.
“Something like that stays with you the rest of your life and I said, wow, this is a place you actually are feeding every time you come in the morning, meals for a hundred people,” said Lietz.
For finding a way to get those excess vegetables to people who really need them, James Smith is our Inspiring Albertan this week.
For more on the Prairie Gleaners Society, click HERE.
(With files from Darrel Janz)
