ICYMI: Food bank FAQs, Maritime tech company fights food insecurity, and more

Here are five newsworthy food stories from the past week

With food bank usage at an all-time high and steep food prices seemingly here to stay for the time being, food security is front of mind for many Canadians. Thankfully, Canada is home to more than a few innovative and resilient individuals who continue to come up with creative solutions to help their fellow Canadians cope.

Check out this week's ICYMI for a few great examples along with a light sprinkling of interesting news stories you might have missed from the world of food.

Food bank FAQs

CBC News recently put together a rather comprehensive reader-requested compilation containing a variety of pertinent information on food banks. The article offers useful guidelines on how to access a food bank and what you can get at a food bank, as well as how and what to donate. 

Head to CBC News to read the article in full.

Yukon to ban single-use paper bags

While the majority of the country will only begin banning the manufacturing and sales of single-use plastics on December 20, the Yukon government is planning to take it a step further by banning single-use paper bags less than a month later. 

Though paper products obviously create less waste than plastic, the announcement cites that the production of single-use paper products is both resource-intensive and harmful to the environment. 

Get the full breakdown from Yukon News.

Women-led tech company improves youth food security in the Maritimes

An interesting women-led startup has been making waves on the East Coast thanks to its unique approach to combating food insecurity amongst Atlantic Canadian youths. Food for Thought was founded in the wake of the pandemic as a means to address increasing rates of childhood food insecurity and within six months were able to deliver roughly 750,000 nutritious meals to schools across the Maritimes. 

More information can be found at Saltwire.

Indigenous-led group harvests buffalo for Regina Food Bank

Last week, we covered a story about Newfoundland and Labrador hunters helping to combat food insecurity by donating game meat to food banks across the country. This week, a similar initiative took place in Regina that saw the Indigenous-led Comeback Society and the Peepeekisis First Nation team up to hold a buffalo harvest ceremony.

In addition to being just a really cool and collaborative community event, the harvest ceremony was able to produce more than 700 pounds of buffalo meat for the Regina Food Bank. 

Check out Global News for more.

Vancouver Island University receives bronze-level certification from Japan

A delegation from the government of Japan recently took a trip to Nanaimo, B.C., during which Vancouver Island University became one of only 12 schools in the world to become a bronze level-certified institution in Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries. The certification is expected to be offered in the Culinary Arts programs at the university's Nanaimo and Powell River campuses as early as next spring. 

Find out more at CTV News.