COQUITLAM, BC, Sept. 15, 2021 – Starting today, a new pilot program will deliver weekly fresh fruits and vegetables to City of Coquitlam youth centres.
Under the City’s Corporate Partners program, Oppy, a Coquitlam-based company supporting food production and distribution throughout North America, will provide a variety of seasonal fresh produce each Wednesday for child and youth recreation programs at Pinetree and Poirier Community Centres.
The initiative supports goals identified in the City’s Youth Strategy, adopted in 2019, which commits to developing more drop-in wellness programs for youth and young adults.
Encouraging Healthy Food Choices for Youth
The City’s partnership with Oppy intends to support healthy living education in youth-focused recreation programs by introducing youth to fresh food choices. The foods will be used in Coquitlam youth centres, as well as recreational cooking programs and learning sessions about food, and will be made available as snacks at drop-in sessions.
Look for programs throughout the fall under youth and child programming at www.coquitlam.ca/registration.
Supporting Low and No-cost Programs
The partnership also provides Coquitlam youth programs with fresh food at no cost, allowing the City to offer low- or no-cost, inclusive youth programs focused on heathy food.
The pilot program, which will run until Dec. 17, 2021, was arranged through Coquitlam’s Corporate Partners program, which provides revenue and in-kind contributions for City services while giving businesses and organizations a chance to give back to the community, utilize marketing benefits and connect with a new or target audience.
During the pandemic, the Corporate Partners program is providing customized and innovative opportunities suited to current programs and services.
About Oppy
Growing, marketing and distributing fresh produce from around the globe for more than 160 years, Vancouver, BC-based Oppy discovers and delivers the best of the world’s harvest. With over 50 million boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on every continent moving through its supply chain annually, Oppy offers popular favourites from avocados and berries to apples and oranges year-round, alongside innovative seasonal specialties. Over the years, Oppy has introduced North Americans to a number of items across its diverse produce range, including Granny Smith, JAZZ and Envy apples, as well as green and gold kiwifruit. Go to oppy.com to learn more.
About the Corporate Partners Program
Launched in 2014, Coquitlam's Corporate Partners program builds relationships with the business community and provides revenue and in-kind contributions to enhance City events, programs and services. Benefits for corporate partners include positive relationships with the community, direct public exposure, a variety of marketing and engagement opportunities as well as recognition in print and online. Packages are customized to meet the partner’s needs, while supporting the City’s current program and service offerings.
For information, visit www.coquitlam.ca/corporatepartners or contact 604-927-3587 or corporatepartners@coquitlam.ca.
Media contacts:
Judy Hamanishi
Community Recreation Manager
City of Coquitlam
604-927-6900
jhamanishi@coquitlam.ca
Chris Siddaway
Community Partnerships & Policies Manager
City of Coquitlam
604-927-3556
csiddaway@coquitlam.ca