New social enterprise business model will produce affordable food for school programs, transform rescued surplus food for communities and generate revenue to support Second Harvest's charitable mission.

TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- As students head back to school, Second Harvest is launching an innovative new Food Processing Facility that brings together food rescue, Canadian agriculture and school food programs under one roof. Built on a social enterprise business model, the facility will create affordable, nutritious food for schools while generating revenue that is reinvested into the organization's charitable mission. At the same time, it will expand Second Harvest's ability to transform rescued surplus food into products for distribution to communities, helping support families facing affordability pressures at school and at home.

The new facility, located at the organization's warehouse in Etobicoke, will transform suitable rescued food that cannot easily be redistributed in its original form into usable food products. It will operate as a social enterprise, purchasing produce from farmers and producers to manufacture nutritious products for school food programs, with revenue reinvested into Second Harvest's charitable mission.

Starting this fall, Second Harvest will be securing produce through local farms and providing 28,000 students with healthy prepared fruits and vegetables through the Toronto Foundation for Student Success.

The launch of this facility comes at an important moment for Canada's food system. The federal government's newly announced National Food Security Strategy identifies increased domestic food processing capacity, innovation and stronger food-system resilience as priorities for building a more self-sufficient Canadian food system. At the same time, Canada's National School Food Program is expanding access to nutritious food for children across the country.

"At a time when many families are struggling with rising food costs, a stronger school food system offers a meaningful source of stability and support for children. When kids have reliable access to nutritious meals at school, they're better positioned to learn, grow and thrive," said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest. "This facility allows us to do more with the food we already have so we can reach more students and communities throughout the year."

The new model brings together food rescue, Canadian agriculture, school food and social enterprise under one roof to recover more surplus produce and strengthen connections between growers, food businesses, community organizations and schools.

"Food waste and food insecurity are deeply connected," said Nikkel. "We have food that could nourish people, and we have children who need access to nutritious food. The challenge — and the opportunity — is building the systems that connect the two."

This project was made possible by a generous group of donors and supporters.

First production runs are expected to begin later in September. Up to 750,000 pounds of fresh produce can be processed annually.

B-roll of the warehouse, facility, processing equipment in action and fresh produce being prepared is available here.

About Second Harvest

Second Harvest is Canada's largest food rescue organization and a global thought leader on food waste and perishable food redistribution. It rescues unsold surplus food from thousands of food businesses from across the supply chain to redistribute it to non-profits in every province and territory. This prevents harmful greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere while improving access to nutrition for millions of Canadians experiencing food insecurity. Beyond food rescue and redistribution, Second Harvest is deeply involved in advocacy, research, training and education. Its groundbreaking reports, such as "The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste," provide critical data and insights to inform public policy and educate the public on sustainable food systems.

Second Harvest is committed to driving systemic change, helping to shape policies and practices that reduce food waste and address its role in climate change, while also supporting communities by providing them with the food they need.

To learn more, visit www.secondharvest.ca

SOURCE Second Harvest