Pulse Canada and the Canadian Special Crops Association have launched a “whimsical” Christmas charity campaign – peas on earth, good soup for men, women and children.
Staff at the two associations have sent 12 Christmas packages containing 50 kilograms each of a quick-cooking pea and lentil soup mix to food banks in Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg and Toronto.
Each food bank received three packages of the soup, which is to be mixed with six to 10 parts of water, resulting in 900-1,500 kg of soup per outlet. The soup mix packages came from InfraReady Products (1998) Ltd., a Saskatoon pulse processor.
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“The holiday season is a time for gifts, sharing and celebration of family traditions that focus around food,” said Gordon Bacon, chief executive officer of Pulse Canada.
“Staff working for the pea, bean, lentil and chickpea industry in Canada wants to support these holiday traditions with fine Canadian pulses.”
The gift giving ties in with the organization’s pulse innovation project, a program designed to boost North American consumption of the four legumes.
One of its goals is to generate scientifically proven health claims about how consuming pulses can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
“Some of the health issues that we’re focusing on are the very same major concerns that people who are recipients of food banks are facing themselves,” said Bacon.
It was an opportunity to do a good deed while spreading the message that pulses are a nutritious and affordable way to achieve better health.
“Pulses are one of the most economical sources of food that are nutrient dense, high in protein and low in fat.”
Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Living recommends eating dry peas, lentils and beans more often. The 2005 U.S. Dietary Guideline goes one step further, calling on Americans to consume at least three cups of beans per week.
“It’s kind of a good time of year to be highlighting some of that stuff,” said
Bacon.
