It's no secret: Portage la Prairie loves its vegetables, and local farmer Mark Peters has helped get some in the hands of the community, free of charge.
Peters says he always loves to put on the giveaway, as it's something the community has always looked forward to. He's also grateful for Jeffries Bros. Vegetable Growers and Elm River Colony, who provided carrots, cauliflower, and beets.
"It's always nice to see people lined up, some even come an hour early for this. That's really cool," explains Peters. "We've got lots of volunteers this year and people have brought extra wagons for us to use. That's been a lot of help."
When Peters looks back at his time doing the potato giveaway, he says that the sense of community it brings is quite heartwarming to see.
"I've had talks with people that came for some potatoes for the first time, and when they realize that it's unlimited, they start coming back for their neighbours, friends, and family. That's the really neat part about this."
Peters hopes to continue providing potatoes to Portagers for years to come, helping them save those few extra dollars.
*With files by Mike Blume