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Saint Mary’s University SQUARE ROOTS
One third of all food produced is wasted; that’s 1.3 trillion pounds of food per year. This produces 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 , making food waste the 3rd
largest contributor to the greenhouse effect. Nova Scotians experience some of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada. Ironically, they also waste more food than other provinces. Square Roots aims to feed people instead of landfills. Square Roots addresses food waste and insecurity through a two-fold approach: affordable produce bundles and a food token program. They source imperfect produce from local farmers and work with low-income communities to increase access to affordable fruits and vegetables. Consumers place orders, produce is then sorted into bundles and distributed to customers. The project’s social pricing system, ranging from $5 to $20 per 10-pound bundle, encourages people to pay what the can afford. A $20 purchase provides a free second bundle for someone in need. To combat food waste in restaurants, Square Roots has created a cashless currency where physical tokens are exchanged at partner restaurants for a full meal made from surplus ingredients. Tokens can be purchased for $5 for personal use or donated to someone in need. There has been a 545% increase in meals provided from last year and the project aims to serve 180,205 meals by next April.
Quick Facts
$38,635 in revenues generated 70 jobs created 23,540 meals served
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PARTNER PROFILE
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Canada’s largest student job network
ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Cash
$660,900
Short-term deposits
$305,919
Accounts Receivable
$185,623
Prepaid Expenses
$43,871 $1,196,313
Long-term Deposits Capital Assets
$11,750 $5,362 $1,213,425
LIABILITIES
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Deferred Revenue
$251,805 $227,700 $474,505
NET ASSETS (UNRESTRICTED)
$738,920 $1,213,425