York Region Food Network expands Good Food Box program to Richmond Hill, Stouffville

Customers can purchase fresh, healthy produce at wholesale prices

Yorkregion.com
Aug, 21, 2023
Melissa Wallace

Richmond Hill and Stouffville residents now have the option to purchase boxes of fresh, affordable produce closer to home.

In August, York Region Food Network (YRFN) announced the expansion of their Good Food Box program to include both municipalities.

In Richmond Hill, the Community Action Table led by Family Services York Region, collaborated with Community Christian Reformed Church of Richmond Hill and YRFN to provide the program to residents. Thanks to funding by York Region’s Community Investment Fund, Good Food Boxes can be picked up at the church, located at 45 Crosby Avenue.

“By providing a pickup location in the heart of Richmond Hill, we have been able to see how many people have already been served through this program and the amazing work that YRFN has been able to bring to our community,” said Jack Klooster, church pastor. 

In Stouffville, YRFN partnered with the Hummingbird Hub, The ABLE Network and St. James Presbyterian Church to build a Good Food Box distribution site. Located at St. James Presbyterian Church at 6432 Main Street, Good Food Box pickup is available thanks to The ABLE Network and Hummingbird Hub. Funding for this expansion has been provided by the Whitchurch-Stouffville Legacy Fund. 

“It is wonderful to see more partnerships of social organizations coming together to provide support, programs and solutions for many within our community,” said Laura Cusack, executive director of Hummingbird Hub. “It’s exciting to see this grow into a solid support service that can help many across a broad demographic spectrum, including support for families, seniors, and young people on a tight budget.”

The Good Food Box program has been operating for more than 15 years and works with Markham’s 19th Avenue Farmer’s Market to purchase produce at wholesale prices. They then pass that discount on to customers to make fresh food more accessible.

“With our bulk produce arrangement, these boxes are more cost-effective than purchasing the same quantity of food from a grocery store,” the company said in a statement.

Each Good Food Box costs $18 and contains six to eight types of fruits and vegetables. Boxes are available on the first and third Wednesday of each month year-round. Customers can place their orders online at www.yrfn.ca and pick up their order in Aurora, Markham, Richmond Hill or Stouffville.