Beginning today (Monday, November 16) a special permit will be available to registered food banks throughout the province that allows them to accept and distribute donations of moose and caribou meat. Permits can be obtained from the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture up to one week after the close of the big game hunting season which falls on January 7, 2021.
This action results from consultation with the Community Food Sharing Association – an umbrella organization representing 54 registered food banks operating in the province.
All registered food banks are eligible for the special permit. Hunters may donate meat directly to participating food banks or through Share the Harvest NL.
All donated moose and caribou must be processed at a government licenced meat processing facility. Home butchered or processed wild game is not considered acceptable for donation to food banks.
Registered food banks wishing to apply for a permit should contact Wildlife Division officials at 709-637-2025.
Quotes
“Hunters donating meat to participating food banks supports the Provincial Government’s efforts to sustainably and responsibly manage big game. Congratulations to the province’s hunters and food banks on their exciting new partnership, which is aimed at getting more nutritious food on dinner plates throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“This partnership is another example of how working together supports our government’s goals of long-term food security and sustainability. Thank you to everyone involved in this initiative. This permit is another way by which a traditional Newfoundland and Labrador healthy food source can be used to supply local food banks and ultimately, help those individuals and families most in need.”
Honourable Dr. John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
“The Community Food Sharing Association welcomes this new initiative that allows food banks to accept and distribute moose and caribou meat. We are very pleased with this opportunity to provide locally sourced healthy food to families in need throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Eg Walters
Community Food Sharing Association
“This has the potential to make a positive impact to the food security issue in Newfoundland and Labrador. Hunters have a history of sharing their harvest with family and friends. I would like to thank Minister Loveless for giving our group, Sharing the Harvest NL, the green light for a pilot program. The minister immediately realized the importance and significance of this program and showed his support by going all in. Thanks also to groups like the Newfoundland Outdoor Heritage Coalition Inc., Newfoundland Sportsman Magazine, the Social Justice Co-operative, the Canadian Food Sharing Association, and Food First NL for their collective efforts to make this a reality.”
Barry Fordham
Hunters Sharing the Harvest NL
“I am overjoyed to have worked with the government on getting this initiative off the ground. I am so grateful to Minister Loveless for hearing us out and to all the staff who worked so hard on this. This initiative will go a long way in addressing household food insecurity in this province, which according to a PROOF Insecurity and Policy Research study for 2017-18, has some of the highest rates across Canada. I am proud to be able to be a small part of getting locally sourced food onto the plates of my fellow citizens.”
Debbie Wiseman
Social Justice Co-operative NL
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Learn more
Sharing The Harvest
Community Food Sharing Association
Social Justice Co-operative NL
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Media contacts
Craig Renouf
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca
Kathy Dicks-Peyton
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 699-1982
kathydickspeyton@gov.nl.ca
Eg Walters
Community Food Sharing Association
709-722-0130
cfsa@nl.rogers.com
Barry Fordham
Hunters Sharing the Harvest NL
709-687-5963
barfordham@live.com
Debbie Wiseman
Social Justice Co-operative NL
709-771-5555
mrsdgrimes@gmail.com