TWO VANCOUVER-BASED ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE EARTH’S OWN PLANT PROJECT GRANTS

Marissa Bergeron

Zoe Beynon-MacKinnon

September 22, 2020 [Vancouver, BC] - Local plant-based brand Earth’s Own today announced that two Vancouver-based entrepreneurs have been selected as part of the company’s inaugural “Plant Projects”: Marissa Bergeron of Eat the Dishes and Zoe Beynon-MacKinnon of Lettuce Harvest will receive funding and support from the brand to grow their projects ​ in Vancouver and across Canada. Through the Plant Project program, Earth’s Own is providing funding and support to groups and organizations across Canada working to fight climate change by sparking a shift to plant-based eating

Eat the Dishes
​Eat The Dishes is a zero waste, 100% plant-based food stand that offers creamy soups, chilli and delicious desserts - all served in freshly baked, naturally-seasoned edible bread cups. Since its inception in 2019, the demand for Eat the Dishes has grown so significantly that their current bread baking system just can’t keep up. The Plant Project grant will allow them to invest in a new bread making machine, increasing production capabilities and extending their catering business. 

“I was over the moon when I found out that we were selected as one of this year’s Plant Projects” said Begeron. “Eating plant-based is one of the best things that we can do for the planet - but I created Eat the Dishes to extend that planet-first mission beyond just the food itself, into every element of the business. I’m so proud to get this support from another BC-based, environmentally-focused company, and I’m so excited about what this is going to mean for Eat the Dishes.”

Lettuce Harvest
​Lettuce Harvest is a registered non-profit based in East Vancouver that believes that increasing local production of fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to create resilient, climate-friendly communities. Their model redefines the typical idea of a community garden, by connecting neighbours with unused front and backyard space with volunteer gardeners of all levels of experience. They work together to produce a harvest that is distributed among the volunteers, the homeowners and local community groups feeding those most in need. Their Plant Project grant will help Lettuce Harvest grow awareness and increase their reach across Vancouver.

“We are beyond thrilled to have our program selected as an Earth’s Own Plant Project” says Zoe Beynon-MacKinnon. “Our goal is to help localize our food system so we can build food security in the face of crisis, foster a sense of resilience by connecting community members, and encourage the growth of plant-based eating to help limit the impacts of climate change. Every volunteer we bring on board, every unused backyard that we can access helps us achieve that mission - and this support will help deliver exactly that.” 

Earth’s Own launched the Plant Project program earlier this year, making funding available to anyone across Canada ​ - from individuals to national charities - with a good idea on how to encourage more people to eat more plants.

“At Earth’s Own, we’re on a bold mission to change the world. We know that the planet can’t sustain our current eating habits, and that adopting a plant-based diet is the biggest thing we can do as individuals to fight climate change,” says Brittany Hull, Director of Marketing at Earth’s Own. “But we also know that we can’t make the kind of wholescale change the world needs alone - that’s what we’re so thrilled to be able to help support the amazing work being done by plant pioneers like Marissa and Zoe.”

More than 200 groups and individuals submitted Plant Project applications. Final selections were made by a judging panel that included members of the Earth’s Own team and plant-based advocate and Plant Project ambassador Erin Ireland. Other 2020 Plant Project recipients include:

“We have been blown away by the response to this project. It’s been so inspirational to see the innovative plant-based thinking being done across Canada by forward-thinking and enterprising Canadians working to save our planet,” says Hull. “Now comes the fun part: seeing how our support can propel these organizations and grow the plant-based movement here in Canada.”

The call-for-entries for the 2021 Plant Project program will be released next spring.