FoodBanks BC is asking the province to help fund an effort to increase storage capacity for donations of perishable food.
Some BC food banks say they've had to turn down offers from supermarkets and farmers because they can't store items like milk and eggs.
Lenetta Parry, Executive Director of the Central Okanagan Food Bank, says unlike smaller food banks, they have fridges and freezers - but wouldn't turn down funding to expand, so she supports the efforts of FoodBanks BC.
"There's always room for more grocers to come onboard with the idea of donating surplus viable food, but on the other side of that is we need to make sure that food banks are equipped and they have adequate capacity to receive these donations," she says.
Parry says about 20% of a typical food hamper contains perishable food like potatoes, onions, carrots, eggs and milk.
The Central Okanagan Food Bank feeds an average of 3,000 to 4,000 people a year - 33% of their clients are 15 years of age and younger and 12% are seniors.
The Ministry of Finance is currently considering a $10-million request from Foodbanks BC to buy fridges and freezers.