The Connaught Youth Centre Society (CYCS) is expanding its food security efforts with the launch of the Northern Fresh Food Centre, supported by Northern Development’s Economic Infrastructure program. Approved on September 9, 2024, the project received $96,666 to use towards enhancing food security in Prince George.
The Northern Fresh Food Centre is an urban farming initiative designed to improve access to fresh, locally grown food in Prince George and surrounding communities. Using an advanced hydroponic system housed in an 8′ x 12′ grow shed, the centre will produce fresh greens year-round. The system can support up to two harvests per month, with eight growing shelves producing as many as 480 plants monthly.
Fresh produce from the centre will be sold to local grocery stores, health food retailers and restaurants, helping to reduce reliance on long-distance food imports while creating new jobs and revenue to support CYCS programming. This initiative represents CYCS’s first social enterprise, with proceeds reinvested to expand services for vulnerable community members, particularly youth.
CYCS has steadily built capacity in local food production over the past decade through community kitchens, raised garden beds, orchards and commercial kitchen investments. The Northern Fresh Food Centre marks the next phase of this work, enabling consistent year-round production.
In addition to strengthening food security, the project offers numerous environmental benefits. Hydroponic farming uses significantly less water and land, produces fewer emissions and is resilient to pests and extreme weather. CYCS also plans to use the facility as a training opportunity, teaching other community groups about hydroponics and its role in community food security and economic development.
