A free produce event that first sprouted with a South Surrey farming family two years ago has now gone international.
Farmers from across Canada and the United States are supporting Heppell Farms鈥� Ugly Potato Day grassroots initiative, which the local family first started at their 184 Street farm in 2022. The event will now include produce from farms in B.C., Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Idaho and Kansas City.
At the first event, 12 people showed up. Word began to spread as well as the popularity of the event, which the Heppells started as a way to help reduce the number of edible potatoes that go to waste due to their odd shape, growth cracks or bruises.
It also helps battle food insecurity in the region, as the initiative invites residents to stop by and fill up on the still-delicious produce for free.
When more than 4,000 people started to regularly show up for their Ugly Potato Day events, the Hepells, along with other farmers, moved to the much-larger Cloverdale Fairgrounds for an August event, where at least 10,000 people showed up for free potatoes, carrots, squash and more.
At the next event 鈥� on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fairgrounds 鈥� an estimated 15,000 people are expected to come and collect up to 250,000 pounds of donated produce and other goods, including potatoes, carrots, beets, peppers, radishes, lettuce and even bread and chocolate.
鈥淭he idea behind Ugly Potato Day is simple 鈥� fighting food waste by sharing perfectly good, yet 鈥榠mperfect鈥� vegetables that would otherwise be discarded," said Ty Hepppell, founder of Ugly Potato Day and co-owner of Heppells Farms, in a release.
"Our vision is about reducing waste and showing the power of farmers working together to bring fresh produce to our communities. (It) has now grown to become an international movement."
