Applications are now open for the federal government's newly renamed surplus food rescue program — and more has changed than just the program's name. When the $50 million program was announced last month, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau wasn't specific about which products were eligible for what was then billed as a "food surplus purchase program." In the U.S., the federal government regularly purchases surplus food from its agriculture sector and redirects them to agencies that provide things like school lunch programs. The funding allocated to this program isn't enough to purchase all of Canada's surplus food. Last month, potato growers alone estimated they had $200 million in surplus inventory because Canadians were staying home instead of indulging their French fry cravings at fast food restaurants or pubs.

Source: CBC News June 15, 2020 21:56 UTC