$50K healthy food program launched in St. John - cbc.ca

The Community Food Action Program will provide grants of up to $2,000 for groups providing affordable food options like community gardens and soup kitchens.

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Minister for Culture, Tourism and Healthy Living Trevor Holder said he chose the Crescent Valley community garden to announce a $50,000 investment promoting food security because that money could make a huge difference in the community.

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"This isn't big money but it's strategic money," Holder said.

Karen Rodgerson runs the community garden at Crescent Valley in Saint John's north end and said fresh fruits and vegetables cost a lot of money.

"It's so expensive for fresh fruits and vegetables, so at least if you grow it, it might take muscles, but you have it at the end of the season," she said.

She and Kathy Floyd manage 12 plots where 19 families from the neighbourhood grow everything from pumpkins to Swiss chard.

"In order to keep the community going, you need to get people involved," Rodgerson said.

The two garden caretakers say the garden helps provide a healthy, affordable option for fresh food in the low-income neighbourhood.

Holder hopes the Community Food Action Program will help the 10 per cent of the households in the province that struggle to maintain a healthy diet.

According to a provincial press release, studies have shown that people who do not maintain a healthy diet are more likely to struggle with obesity, depression and other health problems.