Meals on green wheels: Corner Brook food delivery system gets an EV

A big white van is plugged in outside the Western N.L. Food Hub's pickup location in downtown Corner Brook — and the organization says the recent addition is saving money on gas and reducing their impact on the environment.

The food hub started using the electric vehicle for food pickups and deliveries about six weeks ago, says Richard Butt, the organization's program co-ordinator, and staff are pleased with the results.

"The distributing of food globally has a huge carbon footprint. An electric vehicle for doing short runs around the city and around the region really made sense," Butt told CBC News.

The food hub is Food First N.L. project, started about a year ago, that connects food producers with customers on the Newfoundland's west coast. 

Customers can buy things like frozen meats and seafood, honey, eggs, coffee, tea sauces and spices along with some leafy greens and root vegetables.

The new $100,000 Ford E-Transit was purchased by the food hub's funder, the Northpine Foundation as part of a carbon-reducing initiative. What used to cost about $600 a week in gas now costs $100 in charging fees, says Butt.

Staff pick up goods from four producer locations in Wiltondale, Pasadena, Corner Brook and Black Duck Siding and bring it to the food hub pickup locations for customers.

He says the in-person visits allow staff to engage with farmers and customers much more than before. 

"It is really making shopping for local food a part of people's weekly grocery shopping routine. We don't expect people are going to come here and get 100 per cent of their groceries, but if you can make shopping local for the groceries you can get locally, and then go to your other grocery chain stores to get the rest, that's what it's all about," said Butt. 

With the electric van, the Western N.L. Food Hub is now offering food deliveries to customers in Corner Brook and Pasadena, says Butt, with room to expand.