Two aquaculture companies are donating approximately 120,000 cans of farmed Atlantic salmon to Food Banks Canada’s national hamper distribution program.
The 27,215 kilograms of salmon are from Cermaq Canada and Grieg Seafood B.C., which made matching donations to help food banks as they experience increased demand due to the pandemic. Delivery of the cans to food banks across the country starts at the end of this month.
St. Jean’s Cannery and Smokehouse in Nanaimo has processed and canned the salmon. Aquatrans Distributors and Season Ferries Corp. are donating the cost of transporting cans within B.C.
In April, Grieg and Cermaq worked with Food Banks B.C. on a similar donation for a total of 86,000 cans of salmon. Food Banks Canada subsequently contacted the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association to see if a national donation was possible, Chris Hatch, chief executive for Food Banks Canada, said in a statement.
