Community Fridge KW

Did you know “best before” and “expiry” dates are NOT the same thing? We recognize how much food waste is produced as a result of widespread misunderstandings around best before dates. We’re here to blow the case wide open.

21.18 million metric tonnes of food is wasted each year in Canada, 8.83 million of which could be rescued and redistributed to support communities.

This does not mean that CFKW accepts non-perishables that have been sitting in household pantries for ages— it simply means there is a little more opportunity for food approaching its best before date to find use through your community fridge!

Looking for other ways to help? Check out the link below to join our volunteers and help combat food waste in the tri-cities.

https://forms.gle/iZJo4K17UsxS3NNg8

Sources:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (2026). Best before, expiration and more: Understanding the date labels on your food.
Second Harvest (2024). The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste Roadmap: Update.

We’re thrilled to partner with Wiijindamaan Indigenous Land Futurity, Aaandaajige Cafe of White Owl Native Ancestry, The Food System Round Table as well as Conestoga College and IMAP to present this exciting free public learning opportunity as part of our Community-Driven Urban Agriculture efforts. Amaranth is highly nutritious grain plant that Indigenous communities here and across Central & South America have grown & cultivated for over 8,000 years.
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Ronaldo Lec and Maria Ines Cuj from the Mesoamerican Institute of Permaculture will be in town! Join us as Rony and Maria share ancestral knowledge on Amaranth including a processing and cooking demonstration. A dessert made with Amaranth will be prepared and served by Aanaajige Cafe's Chef Sydney Keedwell!
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Claim your free ticket! See you on the upper level of the Kitchener Market in the kitchen + programming room near the bathrooms.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/amaranth-workshop-and-talk-tickets-734009822137?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Fall may be in the air but your public-access food plants are still thriving, Kitchener!
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We’ve seen lots of use of the lettuce, Swiss chard and tomatoes directly from the planters. Volunteers that tend to these plants also harvest where needed and place our collectively grown food in your community fridge. This is your food, this is my food, this is our food!
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In the next few weeks, we’ll be preparing to wind down the planters and close the growing season with a celebration of community care. Stay tuned!
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While we as a volunteer community strive to do daily check-in’s at your Community Fridge and clean/remove/repair as things come up; it’s been a while since the fridge, its shelter, pantry & surrounding areas received a deep loving. So, we’re hosting a communal deep clean day TOMORROW and you’re invited!
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Come out and lend your time, energy, materials & support with a collective care practice. We ask that if you’re interested or have something to offer, you just message us so we can organize volunteers & supplies. Much love
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