Image: Hanna Pasichnyk / Dreamstime / About 15,000 people are expected flock to the Cloverdale Rodeo Fairgrounds in Surrey to pick up free vegetables during 'Ugly Potato Day.'

By Don Mitchell

Waste reduction

Large Crowd Expected for ‘Ugly Potato Day’ Giveaway in Cloverdale

Oct 18, 2024 | 5:23 PM

SURREY – Nearly 15,000 people are expected to descend on the Cloverdale Rodeo Fairgrounds to take advantage of approximately 250,000 pounds of free produce.

Heppell Farms’ Ugly Potato Day takes place on Saturday (Oct. 19), and the grassroots event anticipates a large crowd for a fair that offers imperfect but edible produce and other foods.

Event founder Ty Heppell says the idea harnesses the power of the North American farming community to bring farmers together to donate fresh produce to those in need.

“The idea behind Ugly Potato Day is simple – fighting food waste by sharing perfectly good, yet ‘imperfect’ vegetables that would otherwise be discarded,” Heppell said in an early October release.

The last event, held in early August, drew close to 10,000 attendees who checked out approximately 150,000 pounds of food items at the fairgrounds.

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The event also provides an opportunity for local farmers to benefit from a BC food donation tax credit.