Vancouver’s vibrant food scene is a point of pride for our city, and now there are two new delicious ways to enjoy it while also supporting a good cause. Venezuelan Freedom Veggies is a joint initiative between Kitsilano’s celebrated Cacao restaurant and new Pemberton farm Blue House Organics. From now until the end of the growing season, $1 from every $20 Blue House Organics CSA box sold will be donated to the Caracas soup kitchen, Fundació Barriga Llena Corazón Contento (Full Belly, Happy Heart), a chef-run volunteer initiative that provides chicken soup to the children’s hospital. Additionally, full proceeds from a new Cacao menu item featuring Blue House Organics produce – a mixed greens salad with cherry tomatoes, dressed in cacao nibs, berry scoby (kombucha culture) and chive oil – will also be donated to the charitable organization until mid-October. Both Cacao co-owner and executive chef Jefferson Alvarez and farm owner Alejandro J. Sucre are of Venezuelan heritage. Their commonalities in background and industry inspired the two foodies to bring attention to the overlooked state of poverty and desperation currently occurring in the once-thriving nation of Venezuela. Food with a conscience never tasted so good!