Fresh Routes is a not-for-profit social enterprise that is focused on creating new, innovative ways of providing healthy and affordable food to as many Canadians as possible — especially those who need it most.

Our Mobile Grocery Stores brings healthy, fresh, and affordable food into neighbourhoods facing barriers — allowing choice, maintaining dignity, and building community.

Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food and is informed to make healthy decisions and live a healthy life!

Origin Story

Fresh Routes started as a pilot from the Leftovers Foundation, a food recovery and redirection program that began in Calgary, Alberta.

Its Founder, Lourdes Juan, realized that households struggling to put food on their table were unable to access food equitably. Lourdes and social workers from the City of Calgary met weekly to determine the best way to get dignified food access to affordable housing communities. Together, they developed the Community Mobile Food Market, which went to four different Calgary communities each week, bringing affordable produce purchased at different wholesalers.

Word of the mobile market quickly spread! With the help of friends from Stoney Nakoda Nation, Fresh Routes began partnering with Indigenous communities and their nutritionists and dieticians to bring healthy food to First Nation communities.

Fresh Routes believes in dignified food access for all. This means providing affordable, convenient, inclusive, and culturally appropriate options to our clients. We require no proof of income to access our services. We know that for families struggling to put food on the table, a dignified approach to food security makes all the difference.