A combine makes quick work of the quarter-section of land owned by the First Assembly of God church.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Thursday marked the 25th annual harvest for the local Canadian Foodgrains Bank harvest, and a successful one at that.
A familiar sight to residents of Medicine Hat and region, the quarter section owned by the First Assembly of God church has been a growing project for the church-based organization for years. The wheat grown on the property will be sold, with the proceeds going to help people overseas dealing with food insecurity.
About 60 per cent of the revenues that the foodgrains bank takes in in a year is spent on emergency food distribution, but about 40 per cent is spent on production, said Abe Janzen, regional representative for Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Alberta.
“The Foodgrains Bank works in about 40 countries around the world now, and last year, we provided food for just under a million people,” said Janzen. He explained that the proceeds from growing projects throughout the country go wherever they’re needed, including throughout Africa, Asia and South America.
This year, the harvest is significantly higher than previous growing seasons which had suffered from grasshoppers and dry conditions, said Charles Redpath, one of the organizers for the local growing project.
At the time of the interview, it was estimated to be roughly 30 bushels per acre.
Redpath recalled a tour he went on with the organization, in which he was able to witness the conditions that people who would benefit from the program were living under in Ethiopia and Nicaragua.
“It was mind blowing. There were 12 of us from Canada there, and we couldn’t believe the stuff that’s been going on over there,” said Redpath. “It really makes us appreciate what we have, and that we’re able to make a difference for them. We’re happy to do so in any way we can.”
